PHOENIX – The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office made progress last year on a court-ordered effort to reduce racial disparities in traffic stops, according to a report released last week.
MCSO's annual traffic study report analyzes racial disparities in stop durations, charge rates, search rates, arrest rates and post-search seizures. Traffic Survey It has been carried out under court order since 2014.
first time, 2023 Report There were no statistically significant differences in outcomes between Hispanic and white drivers, nor between black and white drivers.
of Previous year's report They found that stops involving black drivers lasted an average of 43 seconds longer than stops involving white drivers, while stops involving Hispanic drivers lasted 29 seconds longer.
Hispanic drivers were also 3.7% more likely to be cited and 0.7% more likely to be searched than white drivers in 2022, but these disparities disappeared in 2023.
“The findings in this report are a testament to the hard work our staff continues to do every day to provide expert services to the community,” Sheriff Russ Skinner said. stated in a press release Friday.
Former Sheriff Paul Penzone held the position during the period covered by the most recent traffic study annual report.
What racial disparities are there in the 2023 MCSO Traffic Stop Report?
The 2023 results weren't perfect. The new report shows two disparities in traffic stop data for all minorities combined (Hispanic, Black, Asian and Native American drivers) when compared to white drivers. Stops involving minorities lasted 19 seconds longer and were 2.5% more likely to be ticketed, according to the report.
“MCSO will continue to utilize this annual report, along with quarterly and monthly reports, to monitor enforcement activities, policies and operational processes,” Skinner said. “We are committed to ongoing training and community outreach to improve the capacity of our officers to provide key services in the county and to intervene across all standards when necessary and justified.”
The 2023 findings on Hispanic drivers are especially important because it was the group of plaintiffs that sued MCSO and won. The Melendres lawsuitThe lawsuit was originally filed in 2007 in response to controversial police roundups carried out under longtime Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Why does MCSO have to produce a traffic report every year?
A federal judge ruled after a 2012 trial that MCSO violated the rights of Hispanic drivers by racially profiling and conducting unlawful traffic stops. Compliance Order It was issued in 2013.
MCSO achieved 100% compliance with one stage of the court order this March by properly recording all seized evidence and contraband on the Vehicle Stop Contact Form.
This oversight has taken place over the tenures of three sheriffs, from Sheriff Arpaio to Sheriff Penzone to Sheriff Skinner, who was appointed to the position after Penzone's resignation earlier this year.
Arpaio was convicted of misdemeanor criminal contempt in July 2017 for failing to comply with a court order in the case, but then-President Donald Trump pardoned him two months later. Arpaio had already retired from office by then, having lost the 2016 election to Penzone after 24 years as sheriff.
The Melendres incident has reportedly cost Phoenix metropolitan taxpayers more than $250 million.
Much of the spending was spent on hiring employees to meet the court's requirements and hiring additional staff to monitor compliance on the court's behalf.
Phoenix officials have cited the fallout from the Melendres case as a reason to resist a consent decree with the Justice Department, which has a multiyear investigation that found the Phoenix Police Department engaged in a pattern of civil rights violations, but whose findings are still pending.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
