Maryland sets first U.S. state profiling guidelines for police

Source: Yahoo! News / Reuters

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Reuters) - Maryland's attorney general on Tuesday issued the first U.S. state guidelines that bar arbitrary police profiling of races and minority groups.

The guidelines from Attorney General Brian Frosh are aimed at helping repair relations with minorities. They outline when officers can consider racial, ethnic, sexual orientation or other characteristics during routine police work and investigations.

The guidance comes amid a national and local debate about police treatment of minorities. One of the most prominent cases was the death of a black man in Baltimore in April from an injury in police custody, which sparked protests and rioting. Six Baltimore officers have been charged in the case.

"We believe we can improve the administration of justice. Experience shows us that improper profiling by police does terrible damage,” Frosh, a Democrat who took office in January, told a news conference.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/maryland-sets-first-u-state-profiling-guidelines-police-171338453.html