03-12-2015, 11:10 AM
Yeah, way more blacks than whites were committing crimes in Ferguson. Way more more blacks live in Ferguson than whites, though.
Whether or not the percentage of crimes committed by blacks was proportionate or disproportionate to the population make-up in Ferguson, I don't know.
It's easy for one side or the other to position qualitative findings as supporting their arguments when they leave out quantitative measures, IMO. I always look for both.
This is from the DOJ report, for example:
Minor, largely discretionary offenses such as disturbing the peace and jaywalking were brought almost exclusively against blacks. -- My first question is, "well is that because such offenses were committed almost exclusively by blacks, or is it because blacks were unfairly targeted by police?"
Then when I see this DOJ finding, it leads me to believe that discrimination against blacks was in fact a problem:
When whites were charged with these crimes, they were 68 percent more likely to have their cases dismissed, the Justice Department found.
Whether or not the percentage of crimes committed by blacks was proportionate or disproportionate to the population make-up in Ferguson, I don't know.
It's easy for one side or the other to position qualitative findings as supporting their arguments when they leave out quantitative measures, IMO. I always look for both.
This is from the DOJ report, for example:
Minor, largely discretionary offenses such as disturbing the peace and jaywalking were brought almost exclusively against blacks. -- My first question is, "well is that because such offenses were committed almost exclusively by blacks, or is it because blacks were unfairly targeted by police?"
Then when I see this DOJ finding, it leads me to believe that discrimination against blacks was in fact a problem:
When whites were charged with these crimes, they were 68 percent more likely to have their cases dismissed, the Justice Department found.