Law designed to curb racial profiling through statistical analysis

Police departments around the state have begun the annual process of compiling statistical racial profiling information and submitting it to both their governing cities and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.

A few of those police departments have already released their results -  which are currently on display at the TCLEOSE website, http://www.tcleose.state.tx.us/content/racial_profile_report.cfm. 

Filling officially began on Jan. 1. Other area departments have until March 1 to submit their numbers.

The information used in the report is collected by officers during the ticket process year round and entered into a database where it is compiled into the yearly report.

The law regarding this data collection process went into effect on Sept. 1, 2001, at which point it became part of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.