Collecting Race Data from DLs Proves "A Misfire"

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) For several years, Utah has been collecting data on the race of drivers when they apply for a license. The idea was to find out how large a problem racial profiling is among law enforcement. But it didn't work.

"Everyone's intentions were good, but we simply had a misfire," says Ally Isom of the Department of Community and Culture.

Isom told state lawmakers this week the Governor's office would like funding for a telephone survey to determine the extent of racial profiling in Utah. The race question on driver licenses is set to expire at the end of next year - but Isom says lawmakers should make it a permanent feature because the courts need it.

"This is our only source of any kind of racial data for the purpose of designing jury pools and jury collection," says Utah Courts spokesman Rick Schwermer explains:

A legislative committee gave preliminary approval to a plan that would keep the race check-off on driver license applications, but also give the Governor's Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice money to study racial profiling.

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