National Action Network applauds the Department of Justice (DOJ) on their continued progressive efforts to curtail the problem of racial bias within the criminal justice system. The statistic U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder shared that half of African American men have been arrested at least once by age 23 is startling. Collecting, tracking and evaluating data on an ongoing basis can provide credible, compelling information that could further support sensitive policies, programs or initiatives through the DOJ’s new National Center for Building Community Trust and Justice. This important paradigm will create another tool to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and communities of color.
“Following President Obama’s ‘My Brother’s Keepers’ initiative this is another necessary step in reforming our justice system to be fairer for all. By addressing this issue we can hope to see a reduction in profiling and the overrepresentation of young men of color who have had contact with the criminal justice system,” said Rev. Al Sharpton, president of National Action Network.
