WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Race Data Collection Expert Speaks in Vt.

Race Data Collection Expert Speaks in Vt.

Brattleboro, Vermont - November 12, 2009

One of the nation's foremost experts in race data collection will speak on Vermont Interactive Television Thursday.

Dr. Jack McDevitt is the director of the Institute on Race and Justice at Northeastern University and the director of the Center for Criminal Justice Policy Research. He has worked on numerous projects nationally on law enforcement race data collection.

The forum starts at 7 p.m. and is open to the public. See below for the press release from the Vt. State Police with all the details.

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Press release from the Vt. State Police:

STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
DIVISION OF STATE POLICE
HEADQUARTERS NOTIFICATION

** MEDIA ADVISORY **

Open to the public:        “The Promise and Challenge of Traffic Stop Data Collection” presented by Dr. Jack McDevitt from Northeastern University

WHO:           Dr. Jack McDevitt, from Northeastern University – expert in traffic stop data collection

 WHAT:         Presentation by Dr. McDevitt on traffic stop data collection – open to the public

 WHEN:         Thursday, November 12^th at 7:00 PM

 WHERE:      All fifteen Vermont Interactive Sites (see below for listing)

 The Vermont State Police is pleased to announce that one of the foremost experts in race data collection in the Country, Dr. Jack McDevitt from Northeastern University, will be presenting a public forum titled,  “The Promise and Challenge of Traffic Stop Data Collection” through Vermont Interactive Television (VIT) on Thursday night November 12^th, beginning at 7:00 PM.  Dr. McDevitt is the Director of the Institute on Race and Justice at Northeastern University as well as the Director of the Center for Criminal Justice Policy Research.  He has been directly involved with numerous projects nationally related to law enforcement race data collection.  For more about the Institute on Race and Justice at Northeastern University you can access the website, http://www.irj.neu.edu/about_irj/leadership_and_staff/.  Dr. McDevitt will be introduced by Curtiss Reed, Jr., Executive Director of the Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity.  Mr. Reed provided the following quote in reference to this presentation:

“Issues of racial profiling and bias-based policing have long been challenging ones for law enforcement, policy-makers and the public.  The work of the Vermont Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, the Vermont Department of Public Safety and community organizations in Burlington and Brattleboro have been working together for a couple of years to move beyond past perception, rhetoric and accusation to build trust—the bedrock of Vermont community values.
 
Dr. Jack McDevitt’s presence is but one of several initiatives undertaken by the Department and more specifically the Vermont State Police that demonstrate the type of leadership around which communities can rally and support.  Albeit Dr. McDevitt’s topic focuses on race data collection, what I hope we take away from the ensuing discussions are common practices to build fairer communities.”

Colonel Thomas L’Esperance, Director of the Vermont State Police states the following,

“The Vermont State Police is committed to moving ahead with the full implementation of our Bias Free Policing philosophy.  We look forward to fully embracing data collection and the transparency and accountability that we hope this endeavor provides for our members and our citizens.”

Dr. McDevitt will broadcast from the Brattleboro VIT site, which is located at the Brattleboro Union High School.  He will be available for comment before the start of the presentation from 6:30pm to 7:00pm.   

All fifteen Vermont Interactive Television sites have been reserved for this event.  These sites are listed below and the link provides details and directions about each site.  http://www.vitlink.org/Locations.php   Commanders from the Vermont State Police will be at all fifteen site locations.   

In addition, Dr. McDevitt will be presenting to the Vermont State Police Command Staff on the afternoon of November 12^th at the Northeast Fire Safety Academy located at 8 Three Mile Bridge Road in Montpelier.  The media is welcome to interview Dr. McDevitt at this location at 12:00 PM. 

Questions pertaining to the VIT sites should be directed to 802-728-1455.

VIT SITE LOCATIONS:

Press Advisory Issued by:
Sgt. Tara Thomas
Public Information Officer
Quartermaster
Vermont State Police - Headquarters
103 So. Main Street
Waterbury, VT 05671-2101
Office Phone: 802-241-5277
Fax: 802-241-5551