Office of Racial Equity describes Justice Statistics unit, traffic‑stop data role

Susana Davis, executive director of the Office of Racial Equity, told the Judiciary Committee that the office’s Division of Racial Justice Statistics (DRJS) collects, analyzes and reports justice system data through a racial‑equity lens and has statutory authority to request data and promulgate rules.

Davis said the DRJS receives traffic‑stop data from law enforcement agencies, can identify data gaps and is authorized to require agencies to produce certain data through memoranda of understanding or as a condition of access to Vermont Criminal Justice Council and Police Academy services.

Why it matters: Data from DRJS is intended to illuminate racial disparities in the criminal legal system and to inform legislative and administrative reforms. The unit’s ability to collect standardized traffic‑stop and other justice data gives committees and policymakers empirical grounding for reforms.

Key points

- Statutory authority and remit: The DRJS was created by statute and has authority to identify needed data, request it from agencies and conduct rulemaking to carry out its mandate.

- Traffic-stop reporting: The office collects traffic‑stop data and coordinates with the Agency of Administration to verify agency compliance; compliance affects access to Vermont Criminal Justice Council and Police Academy services, Davis said.

- Broad purview: Davis emphasized DRJS’s cross‑cutting mission — the office engages on housing, education, health and other upstream drivers of justice system outcomes so the committee can consider broader causes of disparities.

Ending

Davis said the DRJS will continue to brief the committee and collaborate with legislative and agency partners on data collection and analysis.