Citizens rely on the police to serve and protect them. But what happens when the police resort to racial profiling to locate and detain law-abiding citizens?  If you’ve been involved in a police altercation and believe you were a victim of racial profiling, police abuse, or police misconduct, you need the knowledgeable and efficient Law Office of Mitchell A. Kline  on your side.
The Chicago Police Have a History of Racial Profiling
People of color in the Chicago area have struggled with unequal treatment by police for some time now. Â Look at these startling statistics:
- In 2013, 68 percent of traffic stops in Chicago involved African-Americans or Hispanics;
- Black and Hispanic drivers were found with contraband one-half as often as were white drivers, yet black and Hispanic drivers were four times more likely to be searched than white drivers;
- 89 percent of taser discharges from Chicago Police from 2012-2015 involved African-Americans or Hispanics;
- Of the police shootings in Chicago from 2008-2015, 88 percent involved African-Americans or Hispanics;
- Nearly 70 percent of  young African-American males reported being stopped by the Chicago police in a 2015 survey of 1,200 Chicago residents – 56 percent of those were on foot at the time they were stopped;
- African-Americans and Hispanics reported being shoved or pushed around by Chicago police seven times more often than whites in the 2015 survey; and
- The Independent Police Review Authority or the Bureau of Internal Affairs never reviewed 40 percent of complaints filed against the Chicago Police Department from 2011-2015.
US Constitutional Protections
The 4th Amendment to the US Constitution is relevant here as well: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Essentially, citizens are entitled to privacy, meaning they cannot be searched without due cause. Â When police conduct a search based on racial profiling, they are acting in an unlawful manner.
The 14th Amendment to the US Constitution is very clear: No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Each citizen’s expectation of fair treatment by law enforcement is a constitutional guarantee.  Statistics suggest that in the Chicago area, people of color are not enjoying these constitutional protections.
What Now?
The Chicago community has a right to equal protection under the law. Â Regardless of race, nationality, or culture, it is the sworn duty of the Chicago Police Department to protect you.
If you believe your rights have been violated based on discrimination or racial profiling, you want the integrity, compassion and experience of the civil rights attorney at the Law Office of Mitchell A. Kline fighting for your constitutional rights. Only by holding the Chicago Police Department accountable will we see a reduction in these types of police misconduct. Â Call now for capable, reliable assistance as you discuss your case and possible compensation packages.
