Under the direction of Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton, the stop-and-frisk policy has significantly declined. In the first half of 2012, 337,410 stops occurred, and only 33,699 stops occurred in the last half of 2013. The mayor has upheld his campaign promise to do away with the controversial policing tool, which discriminates against minorities. The political end of stop-and-frisk does not necessarily mean the end of the practice’s consequences, however. Stop-and-frisk must not be viewed in purely theoretical, retrospective terms. The long-term effects of stop-and-frisk are very real and are beginning to reveal themselves.

NYU sociology professor Amanda Geller authored an Oct. 16 report  that appeared in the American Journal for Public Health. It found a positive correlation between increased trauma among young men and frequency of their encounters with the New York Police Department. As part of the study, Geller interviewed 1,261 men aged 18 to 26 in New York City about their experiences with the NYPD, their impressions of police conduct during these instances and their overall recent mental health. Geller found a positive correlation between the intrusiveness of the stop and the trauma the stop caused.

Geller concluded the seven-page report by calling for police practices to be re-evaluated, citing the enduring nature of the trauma as a cause for serious concern. She suggests devoting more attention to police interactions with individuals who display mental health symptoms, a means to reduce potential trauma suffered by these individuals. The NYPD should consider this recommendation. Implementing Geller’s proposal could prove to be mutually beneficial for the NYPD and those who are interrogated. Amending the stop-and-frisk protocol to reflect this change could better prepare police officers during encounters with individuals. The officers’ heightened awareness of a mental health concern would ideally reduce the likelihood of mistreatment in relevant cases. Under former mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani, the NYPD used policing methods that at times compromised equitable treatment. Geller’s research indicates that de Blasio’s approach of rolling back stop-and-frisk is a smarter long-term solution.

Geller notes: “The criminal justice system has been recognized increasingly as a threat to physical and mental health.” This finding alone should silence any remaining supporters of stop-and-frisk. It is important for New Yorkers to continue examining the effects of this unfair practice. The consequences of the hundreds of thousands of stops already made should not be brushed aside because it is no longer technically policy. Though instances of stop-and-frisk have notably declined, they have had a lasting effect on New Yorkers.

A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, Oct. 28 print edition.