February 5, 2013

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) – Data released by the NYPD shows that in 2011, nearly 90 percent of all those stopped as part of the controversial Stop and Frisk program were black or Hispanic.

Those two groups combined make up less than 53 percent of the city’s population, according to census numbers.

The report breaks down Stop and Frisks over the year by precinct and race.

The report, titled “Reasonable Suspicion Stops,” found that the most stops were made in Brooklyn’s 75th precinct, which covers East New York and Cypress Hills.

More than 31,000 people were stopped in that precinct during 2011 and 97 percent were black or Hispanic, according to the report.

WEB EXTRA: Read The Full Report (pdf)

The next highest area with stops was Brooklyn’s 73rd precinct covering Brownsville. It had over 25,000 stops with 98 percent involving minorities.

The figures show a total of 685,724 people were detained in 2011.

The New York Civil Liberties Union fought for the release of the figures last year.

There are currently three lawsuits filed over the controversial program that opponents have labeled as racial profiling. The NYPD contends the program is an important crime-fighting tool.

Last fall, the City Council held a contentious hearing on implementing new rules for the Stop and Frisk program.