On the campaign trail, President Trump repeatedly insisted that "stop-and-frisk" policing was among the most effective strategies for driving down violent crime. And following his boss' lead, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has shown strong support for helping city police departments revive the controversial tactic, in which officers stop and sometimes search people they think look suspicious.

Advocates say it's a way to stop crime before it happens, particularly in urban areas where it's often most rampant. Opponents, though, counter that it gives police license to racially profile people, and that minority residents are disproportionately targeted.

This interactive explainer, produced by Newsbound's Josh Kalven, explores the evolution of stop-and-frisk policing and the heated legal battles that have long surrounded it.

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Stop-and-Frisk: A Brief History of a Controversial Policing Tool (with Lesson Plan)