Is curbing traffic stops a step to justice reform?

Earlier this month, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi announced that his office will no longer prosecute most felony cases stemming from low-level traffic stops. His goal is to reduce racial profiling and racial disparities in the criminal justice system. 

Police often pull drivers over for minor violations like illegal window tints, expired registrations, suspended licenses or a broken tail light. Across the country, Black drivers are more likely to be stopped and searched. In St. Paul Black drivers were almost four times more likely to be pulled over by police as white drivers, according to a Pioneer Press analysis of St. Paul police data from 2016-2020.

A few other prosecutor offices across the country have tried to curb stops for these types of non-safety infractions.  And, some police departments have said they will scale back these stops on their own, including the Minneapolis Police Department.

MPR host Angela Davis talks to Choi and criminal justice reform advocate Jason Sole about the policy change, what led to it and what impact it may have.

Guests:

• John Choi has served as county attorney for Ramsey County since 2011 and previously served as city attorney for St. Paul. 

• Jason Sole is an adjunct professor in criminal justice at Hamline University in St. Paul and past president of the Minneapolis NAACP. He also co-founded the Humanize My Hoodie Movement, using fashion to overturn stereotypes and educate around racial justice.