The ABCs of Racial Disparity : Enforcement of Low-Level Drug Crimes in Dallas County in 2018

Abstract

Data show that Black and White people use marijuana at roughly equal rates. Yet in 2018, in six of Dallas County's biggest cities, Black people were vastly overrepresented in the enforcement of low-level drug crimes. With a look at enforcement trends before the election of District Attorney John Creuzot, this study launches a series of reports about how his reforms have impacted Dallas County.

Keywords: Marijuana, Law enforcement, Race, Racial inequity, Dallas county (Tex.), Marijuana prosecution reforms, Criminal law