Despite the significance of racial profiling as an issue of national concern, little empirical research exists on whether police traffic stop practices disproportionately impact minority drivers. Using data from 2,673 traffic stops conducted by the Richmond, Virginia, Police Department in 2000, this article explores the treatment by police of motorists of different races and ethnic backgrounds. Minority citizens in general, and African Americans in particular, were disproportionately stopped compared with their percentage in the driving-eligible population. However, they were searched no more frequently than Whites; in fact, Whites were significantly more likely than minorities to be the subjects of consent searches. Compared with Whites, and after controlling for variables, minority drivers were more likely to be warned, whereas Whites were more likely to be ticketed or arrested. Examining officer race as a predictor revealed White officers were no more likely than minority officers to stop, search, or arrest minority drivers.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Steroid use is only now being recognized as a national epidemic. Although American athletes have been using anabolic steroids since the 1950s, it was not until the 1980s that athletic governing bodies began to monitor and sanction illegal supplementation. It is easier to understand why paid, professional athletes might partake in steroid use; keeping up with the competition, sustaining or improving abilities, salary incentives and endorsements based on performance are but a few reasons. But it is more difficult to understand why adult nonprofessional athletes would eagerly flout the law and put their health at risk. Academic research into steroid use has largely ignored this populous group, instead focusing on professional, college or high school/ adolescent athletes. Through semi-structured interviews with 37 recreational steroid users, this paper seeks to fill that void by exploring their motivations, knowledge, and attitudes toward illegal anabolic steroids. The findings are discussed in terms of their policy implications.