Donate

CPRC in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Comments on FBI Director James Comey’s recent speech on police and race

Feb 27, 2015 | Featured

op-ed Police race and crime

John Lott’s newest piece in the starts this way:

FBI Director James Comey’s recent speech on police and race was about as politically incorrect a speech as you will get these days from a high-ranking government official. Comey acknowledges “the existence of unconscious (racial) bias,” but he doesn’t think that racism is responsible for so many blacks being in jail.

Unlike President Obama, he doesn’t see a need to change the way police are trained. Comey recognizes that there are real problems, but he believes they arise from drugs, underperforming schools and unemployment.

Comey’s comments are at odds with what blacks are telling pollsters. Compared with other Americans, blacks were 29 percent more likely to primarily attribute the disproportionate imprisonment of blacks to racial discrimination. Blacks are much more likely to say that police treat blacks less fairly than whites. And blacks are also more likely to believe that the police are dishonest. . . .

There is actually strong evidence that blacks trust police at least as much as whites do. What people say and what they do are often very different. . . .

The rest of the piece is available here.

.

johnrlott

0 Comments

Categories

Archives

Major Decision: U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit Strikes Down New Jersey’s semi-automatic rifles and large-capacity magazines bans. With Commentary. Copy of decision is available here. NJ Governor Responds to Decision.

Major Decision: U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit Strikes Down New Jersey’s semi-automatic rifles and large-capacity magazines bans. With Commentary. Copy of decision is available here. NJ Governor Responds to Decision.

by | Jul 17, 2026 | ,

As expected, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, in an en banc decision, has struck down New Jersey's prohibitions on semi-automatic rifles and large-capacity magazines. It is a major decision because he creates a circuit court split for the first time. The...

While Americans strongly support deporting illegal aliens who have committed crimes, they are divided on “sanctuary” states that restrict state and local officials from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, though more believe “sanctuary” policies jeopardize public safety.

While Americans strongly support deporting illegal aliens who have committed crimes, they are divided on “sanctuary” states that restrict state and local officials from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, though more believe “sanctuary” policies jeopardize public safety.

by | Jul 17, 2026 | ,

Voters appear to hold someone inconsistent positions on deporting illegal aliens and sanctuary policies. While voters are equally divided on "sanctuary" states stopping state and local officials from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, by a ten...

At Townhall: Why We Need the SAVE America Act

At Townhall: Why We Need the SAVE America Act

by | Jul 17, 2026 | ,

Dr. John Lott has a new op-ed at Townhall on the push for the SAVE America Act. . Democrats argue that requiring voter photo IDs—even when the ID itself is given away free—creates practical barriers that prevent eligible voters from casting ballots. “We’re all set for...