Deseret News | Reader comments: Is race factor in arrests?

Reader comments
Is race factor in arrests?

Lee | 2:18 a.m. March 16, 2008

Is race a factor in the Deseret News' policy reporting about crimes being committed? There seems to be a tendency to only publish the names and/or pictures if the criminal is Caucasian. There have been numerous recent stories where names belonging to non-Caucasians have been omitted and exchanged with "a Salt Lake man", etc..

Tom Duffany | 7:01 a.m. March 16, 2008

Is there a reason why you leave out the rate at which the miority community commits crimes? Is there a relationship between the frequency of crimes committed and arrests made?

Curious | 7:34 a.m. March 16, 2008

Aren't "whites" considered a "race" too? Or is this just something that is used for minorities? I'm confused.

Comments continue below

SLC'er | 10:32 a.m. March 16, 2008

of course the bigots of Utah have a problem accepting this fact. There is no reason to question this report.

Good Questions | 10:35 a.m. March 16, 2008

Why is it that we don't talk about the number of crimes by race? Why don't we talk about the fact that the most dangerous areas of a city are typically populated by the less educated? Why do people say it is racism to simply say what is going on?

If we want to change the problems we face, we must look at better education, better parenting, and not be afraid to simply say the truth about where most of the crimes are being committed.

Let's be respectful and honest about the situation - not to attack, but to face the realities of the problems we are dealing with in our communities.

No easy answers, but we must be willing to have the conversation.

Speeding on I-15 -- no one is immune to the craziness -- let's be honest, that is a dangerous place for anybody because of the way lots of people drive. However, I avoid potentially dangerous neighborhoods or places that would just bring trouble. Ask the emergency crews where they are called to the most and you will quickly know where the biggest burdens are on the city finances.

makes me cry | 11:35 a.m. March 16, 2008

Curious 7:34 -
Poor whites.
Poor, poor whites.
Pity the poor whites.
Always getting picked on
Always being scapegoated.
Poor, poor whites!

To "Makes Me Cry" | 11:51 a.m. March 16, 2008

That could be said of any race. Typically, people of all races feel like their needs are most important and the least understood.

You can look to examples from any ethnicity to see self-pity, bias, and mistreatment.

The power is in having conversations and losing the blame talk to shoulder some responsibility for the problems.

Anonymous | 11:56 a.m. March 16, 2008

Whites have been scapegoating people of color since the Founding Fathers had slaves. There really is no letup in sight.
I thought EVERYBODY knew that!

Black | 1:41 p.m. March 16, 2008

Ever been stopped for DWB - driving while black? I have. I was stopped for no reason that the white cop could give. Asked for my driver's license, insurance form. Asked where I was going at 11:30 p.m. - home from work - and what business did I have in that part of town - 2100 south and State Street. Had me get out of the car to do a drunk check - I don't drink. Had me sit back in my car while he waited in his car. 20 minutes later he said I could go. Wondering if this occurs often with white folks. Doubt it.

RE: SLC'er | 2:44 p.m. March 16, 2008

I believe the definition of a bigot is one who groups people together and makes broad wide-ranging derogatory statements about that group. I have read many times on these comment boards in which you do that. Please do not be bigoted. You are being part of the problem not the solution.

Deseret Dawg | 4:28 p.m. March 16, 2008

In reading the comments posted so far, it's easy to distinguish between those who live in Salt Lake versus those who live in Utah. SLC'er seems to be more interested in name-calling than in responding to the legitimate issues raised in particular by the first three posters.

Whether or not someone is "bigoted" or "racist" is irrelevant, since the terms are now used merely to throttle debate and have lost intelligent meaning as a result. The fact remains that most media outlets in the United States clearly are reluctant to identify non-White perpetrators by their race because of political correctness or out of fear of getting "Buttared" by the NAACP or La Raza.

utah citizen | 6:07 p.m. March 16, 2008

Well the first thing I would say is that when police stop vehicles the people never believe the reason given for the stop, whether white or minority. Second, many times the narrow minded citizens of rural Utah do call the police about a minority in the area as suspicous and the only reason given is they don't belong. This is not a police issue, it is a community issue, as well. Last thing I would like to say is that people say that police judging someone by the color of their skin, or how they dress is wrong. Yet, many of these same people judge all police by the clothing(uniform) or skin color. Perceptions are real to people, but in reality, the majority of police officers are doing the best they can in a thankless job and until the "race" issue is solved by the commumity as a whole, it will always be a police issue too.

Sinder | 6:31 p.m. March 16, 2008

Why do the most racist people seem to come from minorities? Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. for example...
or is it just racist white media bringing them into the spotlight :P
Your a person to me until YOU make it a big deal as to the color of your skin...then your just a racist...

LIVING IN AMERICA | 6:36 p.m. March 16, 2008

Welcome to UTAH the most racist state in the country. They don't call it racism. We call it racial preference? Don't complain just make a CHANGE. If you really want CHANGE please vote for OBAMA.

To "Living in America" | 7:26 p.m. March 16, 2008

It is amazing how many people like to call names . . . why make such a unfair allegation?

If you didn't notice, UTAH voted wholeheartedly for OBAMA in the primaries. It wasn't about race, it was about his ability to bring HOPE. Utah remains a state dominated by Republicans, but the primaries had many of us voting for OBAMA.

Let's not attack so quickly. Instead, let's have civil conversations about the problems.

I actually recognize the bias and mistreatment that minorities have suffered since the beginning. It still persists everywhere around the globe -- seriously, try going to the Middle East, Asia, or elsewhere and see how different people are treated. The power is in rising above the mistreatment - I come from a multi-racial home.

The danger is in declaring and making racism a white only problem. It obviously is not (Obama's minister would have been in big trouble if he was a white guy saying the things he did), and the LDS church would have been railed against if they had spoken out with such political statements.

We can only progress when civil conversation prevails. Let's back off the anger and talk.

albino? | 7:27 p.m. March 16, 2008

"The state's minority population has boomed since the early 1990s and is projected to hit 20 percent by the next census"

Wow, A whole 20 percent!! That makes Utah whiter than Wonderbread.

Anonymous | 10:10 p.m. March 16, 2008

What's up with all the white Utahns feeling persecuted by the blacks? It's ridiculous as most of you probably know less than five black people in Utah (and that seems like quite a stretch.)

B | 10:25 p.m. March 16, 2008

What is the percentage of crimes committed in utah by that 20%. I know this is probably not a "politicly correct" question to ask but I think it may effect racial profiling with our law enforcement.

call a spade a spade | 9:39 a.m. March 17, 2008

It is a fact that some minority groups have a higher rate of crime & incarceration. Should that compromise their right to equal treatment under the law... absolutely not. But we need to be careful about suggesting there's a causal effect here. If, incidently, more minorities are being charged with crime, it's probably because they're committing more crime, and not because they're being "profiled" by police.

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