STOP-AND-FRISK data by the ACLU of New York shows that over the last two decades of the NYPD conducted millions of stop-and-frisks in New York City, the majority of those stopped were people of color, and a vastly disproportionate number are Black.
One of the most dramatic and consistent aspects of stop-and-frisk is its disproportionate impact on New Yorkers of color, particularly Black New Yorkers.
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The data shows that nine of the ten precincts with the highest stop rates have been in predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods (defined as over 80 percent residents of color). Six of the ten precincts have been home almost exclusively to Black and Brown residents (defined as over 90 percent residents of color).
Under the Adams’ administration, the NYPD has stopped tens of thousands of pedestrians since Adams took office and just 5% of them were white. The data reveals more stops than the Bloomberg or de Blasio administrations, making racial disparities under a Black Mayor more striking than his predecessors.
The evidence above clearly shows that the overwhelming majority of people stopped by the NYPD have been innocent, meaning the NYPD found no evidence of wrongdoing and the civilian was not given a summons or arrested.
Between 2003-2013, nearly 90 percent of stops did not lead to a summons or arrest. Since 2013, the arrest rate has risen because the number of overall stops has decreased significantly. The rate at which the NYPD are frisking or searching civilians has also risen sharply. In 2022, 3 in 4 people stopped by the NYPD were frisked or searched.
The data also found that young people are disproportionately impacted. Young people aged 18-24 represent 35 percent of all stops from 2003-2022. In the last two decades 18-24-year-olds were stopped 2,065 times for every 1,000 18-24-year-olds who reside in New York City. Black people aged 18-24 were stopped over 900,000 times from 2003-2022. They accounted for 18 percent of all stops, nearly double the number experienced by white people of all ages (close to 500,000 times).
Following an analysis of New York City’s stop-and-frisk data, the ACLU has found no evidence that ramping up stops makes New Yorkers safer, but the organization is sure that many of the stops have been unlawful and that some have led to violent police misconduct.
