Resource: The Legacy of Stop and Frisk: Addressing the Vestiges of a Violent Police Culture

Part I of this Essay explains the controversial stop-and-frisk policy as it has been implemented in New York City and explores arguments for and against the use of such tactics to prevent and investigate crime. Part II explains the inherent violence the NYPD has employed in numerous stop and-frisk encounters. Part III argues that the institutional nature of practices such as stop and frisk and other aggressive police strategies create a culture that cultivates misconduct within police departments, imposes unfair burdens on residents of these communities, and undermines the legitimacy of law enforcement. Part IV offers solutions to counteract institutional police misconduct associated with stop and frisk and other aggressive police tactics. Any successful reform must be organizational in nature and must include various stakeholders to ensure sustainable and politically legitimate reforms.