Racial equity task force works to reduce disparities, curb bias in justice system

A group charged with reducing racial disparity in the justice system met again on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, that group heard from former Durham Police Chief C.J. Davis.

The group’s work has already led to changes in the law.

That task force came up with 125 recommendations. Some of those have led to changes in state law.

But this could be the last year for that task force and its work depending who voters send to the governor's office on election day in November.

Cooper is giving an urgent mission to the task force he formed to reduce racial bias in the criminal justice system.

"Your work is harder," Cooper said. "Our work is harder because of this. There is an increasing number of people who would attack efforts to achieve diversity."

The state established an Office of Violence Prevention and developed new basic law enforcement training, including increasing training hours from 640 to 868.

"I think it builds trust in our community," Eddie Buffaloe said. "That’s what we’re trying to do across the board with these new policies and practices across our state."

Davis didn't discuss that, but did say the stress and trauma of the job impacts the culture of a police force.

"Too often, our officers carry the albatross or burden of what a few did, and it impacts their work. It impacts their attitude," Davis said.

The task force has helped change laws to hold police accountable here.

Now, Cooper said he's focused on making it easier for people to pick back up with their lives and get back to work after serving their time.

"Our communities are going to be safer because of it, because you aren’t going to have people going back to do the same thing they did to start with. You are giving them a better chance," Cooper said.