NJ chapter of ACLU: Blacks far more likely than whites to be arrested

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TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Black people are far more likely than whites to be arrested for low-level offenses in New Jersey, according to a new study released Monday by the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The study was based on 10 years of arrest data the ACLU collected through public records requests filed with four communities — Elizabeth, Jersey City, Millville and New Brunswick. The ACLU says the four cities reflected the diversity of the state in population density, demographics and geography.

The ACLU studied the enforcement of four low-level offenses: loitering, marijuana possession of 50 grams or less, defiant trespass and disorderly conduct. The group says it chose to examine those arrests because police officers exercise so much discretion in the enforcement of these types of offenses.

The report found that blacks were 9.6 times more likely to be arrested than whites in Jersey City in 2013 for the low-level offenses, while blacks were 6.3 times more likely to be arrested in Millville. In Elizabeth, they were 3.4 times more likely to be arrested and 2.6 times more in New Brunswick.

Read more:  http://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-ch ... -to-be-arrested-1.1477663