VOP’s Statewide Racial Profiling Campaign is working on two fronts. “Besides our work to get officials to collect data on traffic stops, we continue to make progress with law enforcement agencies, state government and other social justice organizations towards stronger statewide training and action against biased policing,” said VOP Chairperson Janice “Jay” Johnson.

Racial Profiling Campaign Committee members met this summer with staff members of the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to discuss establishing a Bias-Based Policing Coordinator position. DCJS agreed with VOP members that racial (and ethnic) profiling is a priority issue and that more resources would allow the Department to better address it. Committee members were especially pleased to learn that the Department had interest in including more community input into law enforcement officer trainings. VOP continues to work closely with the Department to evaluate how best to add a coordinator and improve training with existing resources.

“As virginia.organizing goes to press, we remain hopeful that the DCJS position will be included in the Governor’s biennial budget for 2009-2010,” Johnson said. “Whether or not the position is included, we know it has strong support from key members of the General Assembly who are willing to make more efforts to see if funding opportunities are available. We also believe that these discussions will lead to more occasions for relationship-building with other organizations concerned with racial justice.”

“If this position is funded, we expect it will open up new channels between law enforcement and community groups representing communities of color, like NAACP chapters, VOP chapters and local Latino organizations,” Johnson said. “As the General Assembly begins to meet early in the new year, VOP will be contacting you to help make this position a reality.”

For additional information, contact Richael Faithful at faithful@virginia-organizing.org or (757) 784-6046.