Good police practices, thorough training, carefully crafted policies and appropriate allocation of resources in law enforcement can ensure public safety and prevent abuses in encounters between police officers and citizens. Unfortunately, across the nation patterns of racial profiling, the selective enforcement of laws against people of color and disturbing stop-and-frisk policies have resulted in a disproportionate effect on certain communities, with people of color coming in contact with law enforcement and the criminal justice system at far greater rates that white people.
In addition to our work to promote fair and effective police practices, the ACLU has defended the rights of police officers, firefighters and corrections officers throughout the nation. For examples of the ACLU’s legal advocacy on behalf of law enforcement officials, go here.