Legewie. Racial Profiling and Use of Force in Police Stops

Introduction

  • Racial profiling and police use of force are controversial issues.

  • Racial bias in police force usage increases following significant events, such as police shootings by black suspects.

Research Context

  • This study analyzes data from 3.9 million pedestrian stops in New York City to examine the impact of certain events on police force against different racial groups.

  • Two fatal shootings of police officers by black suspects significantly increased police use of force against black individuals while leaving usage against whites and Hispanics unchanged.

Key Arguments

  • Events create intergroup conflict and activate stereotypes, leading to discriminatory responses.

  • Aggressive policing is particularly aimed at young black men in urban communities, as described in various ethnographic studies (e.g., Anderson 1990).

  • Temporal aspects of events are critical in understanding how discrimination changes over time, revealing situational factors behind police use of force.

Methodology

  • The study employs a quasi-experimental design:

    • Comparison of police stops before and after the events, matched for time and location.

    • Two major events analyzed involve shootings of police officers by black suspects (2007 and 2011).

    • Findings indicate a substantive increase in police force usage against blacks after these events—16.0% and 13.3% increases respectively.

Discriminatory Patterns

  • Previous research shows racial disparities in policing are shaped by multiple factors:

    • Perceptions of threat posed by minority groups lead to heightened police aggression.

    • Racial profiling has been demonstrated consistently across various studies.

Evidence of Racial Bias

  • Major findings include:

    • Significant increase in police force against blacks after shootings of police officers by black suspects.

    • No corresponding increase in force used against whites or Hispanics, indicating a race-specific response.

Contextual Factors

  • Events lead to solidarity within police ranks, fostering increased aggressiveness towards perceived threats from minority groups.

    • Reports and community responses following police officer killings suggest a cycle of violence and perception that affects police behavior.

Temporal Dynamics

  • Findings highlight:

    • Response to incidents is often temporary but recurrent, emphasizing the need for understanding long-term implications of such events.

    • The described methodology allows for deeper insight into policing patterns over time and in relation to specific events.

Conclusion

  • The study underscores the role of specific events in triggering increased police force against minorities, particularly blacks:

    • Shows how these incidents can perpetuate cycles of distrust and conflict between communities and law enforcement.

    • Suggests the necessity for timely and targeted interventions to mitigate bias and promote better community relations.

Broader Implications

  • Suggests that understanding the timing of events can contribute to more nuanced approaches in policing and combating racial bias.

  • Encourages further research into how specific incidents shape police behavior and community perceptions over time, expanding the regulatory framework for police interactions.