Since a controversial report on alleged racial profiling by the New Bedford Police Department was released by Citizens for Juvenile Justice a week ago, the report's findings have been called into question by the department, the Mitchell Administration, the police union, and residents.
In particular, the NBPD called into question the non-profit organization’s use of the data the department itself provided through public records requests.
In a response dated April 20 and provided to WBSM News today following an inquiry, the organization said it stands by the analysis in the report, entitled "We Are the Prey: Racial Profiling and Policing of Youth in New Bedford." The report alleges that 46 percent of the people involved in interactions with police over the past five years were Black, despite the city’s overall population being just seven percent Black.