Writing-art/editorials

Are you black? Do you wear baggy jeans and bubble jackets? Do you have a tendency of putting your wallet in your pocket? Well if you have answered yes to any of those questions, you are probably a criminal. At least that's what the New York City's new Stop and Frisk form dictates. It clearly lines out what a New York police officer should look for in a "suspicious individual".

Like time, the form had to be improved to accommodate the variety of races and cultures that encompass today's society. So as not to offend or point out a particular race or sect, the form is made up of lists and categories, whose intent is to give the officer viable reason for stopping someone.

The original one-sided form detailed the time, place and reason a police officer had for stopping an individual. It was apparent that the form was flawed in many areas. Police officers had no checklist to follow. They were to describe the reasons for stopping someone in their own words. Often the information was incomplete or illegible.

Controversy over the form developed after the 1999 killing of Amadou Diallo by New York City police officers that had initial intentions of questioning him. An investigation led by Attorney General Elliot L. Spitzer and another by federal prosecutors in Manhattan came to the conclusion that officers on many occasions have unfairly singled out blacks and Hispanics on such encounters.

This led the police department to redesign its stop and frisk report. Officials say that the new form will help officers better establish reasons for stopping an individual on the street. The new form requires that the, officer, provide more information on the individual, such as describing the mannerisms of the person after being stopped.

Granted the new form is thorough and shows signs of change, whether if it will be effective or not is questionable. The new form is very detailed when it comes to describing what a police officer should look for, but has some how managed to maintain a certain level of ridiculousness. "Changing direction at the sight of an officer", "Suspicious bulge/object", "Furtive Movements", just to name a few, are indicative of a less than generic idealism.

The form capitalizes on the fashions and mannerisms that are often found in blacks and Hispanics. This of which can be thought of has giving police officers more of an excuse to stop a black or Hispanic person on the street, and that can lead to harassment.

This new form vaguely resembles that of New Jersey's profiling system. Using generic terms that describe a group instead of an individual. Whether the new report is working or not has yet to be determined, but is a standing testament that this country has a lot of work to do in its domestic affairs.

Old report form: actors which caused officer to reasonably suspect person stopped Old report form:

* Proximity to scene of reported/suspected offense
* Inappropriate attire for seasonal weather
* Carrying objects in plain view commonly used in commission of crime
* Fits description
* Actions indicative of "casing" victim or location
* Actions indicative of acting as a lookout
* Unusual nervousness
* Wearing clothes/ disguises commonly used in commission of crime
* Actions indicative of engaging in drug transaction
* Evasive false or inconsistent responses to officer's questions
* Suspect is associated with persons known for their criminal activity
* Furtive movement(s)
* Refusal to comply with officer's direction(s)
* Changing direction at the sight of an officer
* Verbal Threats by suspect
* Actions indicative of engaging in violent crimes
* Suspicious bulge/object (describe) Environmental Factors
* Area has high incidence of reported offense of type under investigation
* Time of day, Day of Week, Season, Corresponding to reports of criminal activity
* Knowledge of suspect'sd prior criminal