Report: Many Hispanics not sure police will treat them fairly
The Pew Research Center reports that two national surveys show Hispanics are closer to African-Americans than whites as far as believing police and the courts will treat them fairly.
Less than half of Hispanics — 46 percent — are confident police will not use excessive force on suspects, the report says. That compares to 73 percent of whites and 38 percent of African-Americans, according to the report by Mark Hugo Lopez and Gretchen Livingston of Pew.
Just 45 percent of Hispanics are confident police will treat Hispanics fairly.
Seventy-four percent of whites and 37 percent of African-Americans are confident police will treat blacks and whites equally.
While 78 percent of whites have a great deal or fair amount of confidence that police in their community will do a good job of enforcing the law, 61 percent of Hispanics and 55 percent of African-Americans are confident, according to the report.
The report notes that the interaction of Hispanics with the criminal justice system has been rising more quickly than their share of the adult population. Interaction includes such things as being questioned by police to being arrested to serving on a jury to serving time in prison.
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Jean is projects editor at the Post-Dispatch. She is a member of Bridges Across Racial Polarization, a group devoted to creating friendships and fostering communication among racial and cultural groups in the community. After growing up in a small town in Kansas, she lived in Kansas City and Wilmington, Del., before moving to St. Louis in 2004. She and her husband, Dan Wiggs, live in University City. 
Aw, c’mon Jean. Sherman George is suing St Louis City for discrimination and you chose this?
But to address the issue, how many of these Hispanics surveyed are immigrants? It matters, since the police in Mexico are more aggressive, physical, and corrupt. Could explain why Hispanics feel that way.
Yes I would also like to discuss Sherman George. Let’s get the laundry on the line out in the yard so everyone can truly see why Sherman was DEMOTED Not fired. Beware I have lots of Ammo.LOL
Well, look at who commits a large percentage of the crimes. If you don’t put yourself in a situation, like COMMITTING A CRIME, then you have nothing to worry about. I am white, so i fell 100% that i will be blamed for everyone else’s problems.
PS: please don’t delete my post b/c it makes sense.
So this artical shows no data on how whites/blacks/and hispanics are ACTUALLY treated, just that they THINK they would be treated one way or another. Well, I THINK that hispanics are secretly trying to dig a tunnel to southeast asia to import/export cheap labor…does that make it true?
In my younger and dumber days, I let a sarcastic comment fly when dealing with some police officers. I got slammed against a wall and the rules layed down. An older, grayer officer intervened and calmed the situation down. Since that day, I’ve been much more respectful when dealing with police and haven’t had so much as an uncomfortable situation.
The point….99% of the time, officers will treat people the way they deserve to be treated. If you are respectful and cooperative, you will be treated accordingly. If you are uncooperative and unruly, be expected to have your butt straightened out. Period.
Amazedbythelunacy
Why do you think African American seem to be treated the way you described as in your youth?
I know the answer, but I’m waiting for your assessment.
The time has come for all of us to stop hating each other and love your fellow person.
Before you cast this as an indictment of the US and our police, remember these matters:
Police in the nations from where many Hispanics immigrated do mistreat citizens, often on a regular and routine basis. Coming from such an environment would cause a person to be more than normally suspicious of those acting under the color of authority.
Circulating among our Hispanic communities are a number of those who are routinely breaking the law in ways small (being here illegally) and large (committing crimes petty and serious, often against others in the community.) It’s often not immediately apparent to law enforcement who is worthy of greater suspicion, and the rational approach is to begin by being wary of all. That translates into increased attention from law enforcement.