LGBTQ+ people are more likely to be stopped, arrested, and falsely accused by police: report

"LGBTQ+ people are significantly more likely to report being stopped, detained, and falsely accused by law enforcement compared to non-LGBTQ+ people, and it's keeping them from calling for help. A recent review of more than 25 years of research on interactions between LGBTQ+ people and law enforcement by the Williams Institute found that LGBTQ+ people were more likely than non-LGBTQ+ people to face mistreatment from police."

""Experiences of police mistreatment may discourage LGBTQ people from reporting crimes or engaging with law enforcement," Joshua Arrayales, lead author and Law Fellow at the Williams Institute, said in a statement. "Reporting crimes is essential for accurate crime statistics, proper allocation of crime prevention resources, and support services that address the unique needs of LGBTQ survivors." Police still engage in tactics such as raids and entrapment, the report notes, leading to distrust between the community and law enforcement."

LGBTQ+ people report higher lifetime rates of police stops (51% vs. 42%), searches (27% vs. 16%), arrests (20% vs. 14%), and custody (19% vs. 14%). Over one-fifth (21%) of LGBTQ+ people reported at least one police-initiated contact in the prior 12 months, compared to 15% of non-LGBTQ+ people. LGBQ people were nearly six times as likely (6% vs. 1%) to have been stopped by police in a public space. Bisexual and transgender respondents reported especially high rates of stops and detentions; 46% of trans people said they would be reluctant to contact police if they needed help. Around 13% of LGBQ people said they did not call police when they needed help.

Read at Advocate.com