Understanding Terry Stops & Stop and Frisk: A Community Conversation

The Constitution, through the Fourth Amendment, protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures the government. The Fourth Amendment, however, is not a guarantee against all searches and seizures, but only those that are deemed unreasonable under the law. Our goal is to focus primarily on searches and seizure of person and cars. At the end of this event attendees will be equipped with the basic Fourth Amendment knowledge to protect themselves from unreasonable searches and seizures and the steps to take should they feel the government has intruded on their rights. 

Many courts have found the practice also violates the Fourteenth Amendment's promise of equal protection, as Black and Latino people are subject to stops and searches at a higher rate than whites. Studies (including in Chicago) suggest that stop-and-frisk does not effectively reduce crime where it is used. Studies have also shown that most citizens of color view the practice as discriminatory and dehumanizing, leading to the erosion of trust between police and the communities of color they serve.

Speakers: 

Assistant Professor of Law Edward Dawson, Southern Illinois University School of Law. 

Officer Marvin Randolph, Chicago Police Department 

Dontel T. Crowder, Esq., Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C.