City leaders have approved funding for a study that will determine the rates at which local law enforcement agencies pull over and search people of color.
As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously to enter into an agreement with Douglas County, Eudora, Baldwin City and the University of Kansas to fund and conduct the study. The city’s share of the costs would be $84,000 over two years.
A team from Northeastern University in Boston will assist the law enforcement agencies to develop and implement a program for documenting the racial breakdown of motorist and pedestrian stops and searches. The team will then make recommendations to address any disproportionate minority contact, and law enforcement agencies will be able to use the program going forward.
Read more: LJWorld.com.