MINNEAPOLIS - A new report of the Minneapolis Police Department raises concerns of racial disparities in low-level arrests, saying black people and Native Americans were eight times more likely to be arrested than white people.
The new report, "Picking up the Pieces: Policing in America, a Minneapolis Case Study," comes from the American Civil Liberties Union's Criminal Law Reform Project and the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota.
The study looked at more than 96,000 arrests made by Minneapolis police officers from January 2012 to September 2014 for low-level offenses (crimes with a fine of $3,000 or less and/or up to a year in jail).
Of those arrests, black people were 8.7 times more likely than white people to be arrested and Native Americans were 8.6 times more likely.
Authors of the report say officers at the Minneapolis Police Department show similar patterns with racial bias that's been seen across the country. They call for reform of the department, bias training and discipline against officers, when necessary.
The report also points to racial disparities and "overcriminalization" of black and Native American youth.
Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau said the report doesn't acknowledge repeat offenders.
"There are at least 35 individuals that have been arrested between 50 and 75 times within five years," she said. "That one person arrested 55 times would be counted as ( 55) African-American males who were arrested. The reality is that was one person with ( multiple) arrests. "
Chief Harteau says some of those stops are results of 911 calls. For the more information about the study, click here.
