African-American and Hispanic drivers are more likely to be searched, handcuffed, arrested and subjected to force or the threat of it during police stops, a Department of Justice study completed back in April found.

African-American, Hispanic and white drivers were all stopped at similar rates, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. But African-Americans and Hispanics were treated more aggressively, the study showed.

American Indians and Alaska Natives were not singled out in the report. Other studies in South Dakota, Nebraska and Canada have shown that Native people are treated more harshly in the justice system.

Lawrence A. Greenfeld, the head of the BJS, was demoted because he wanted to publicize the findings, according to news reports. He was called to the White House and was told to resign but is instead moving to another government position.

Get the Story:
Official in Racial Profiling Study Demoted (The Washington Post 8/25)
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Race Disparity Seen During Traffic Stops (AP 8/24)
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Get the Study:
Contacts between Police and the Public: Findings from the 2002 National Survey (April 2005)

Related Stories:
Report: Police stop Natives more often than whites (05/27)
Report to downplay race as factor in justice system (07/20)
Indian drivers in Neb. more likely to be searched (04/02)
Neb. report focuses on disparities in justice (02/03)
Race study confirms disparity (10/28)
S.D. study shows disparity in justice (10/22)