The Effect of Information about Police Shootings on Support for Police Reforms

• In Event: Policing and Criminal Justice: Representation, Turnout and Accountability

Abstract

We study the effects of informing the public about police shootings on support for police reform proposals. Using original data on all officer-involved shootings in 10 American cities, we conduct a survey experiment. We ask each respondent how many civilians s/he believes were shot in 2020 by police in his/her city. We randomize the respondents into a control group or one of three treatments groups. Each respondent in a treatment group receives some form of information about the true number of police shootings in his/her city. All respondents are then asked their opinions on five police reform proposals. Our findings provide novel insight in to the effects of information about police behavior on public support for major issues in American politics and policing today.

Authors

• Kaylyn Jackson Schiff, Yale University

• Tom Clark, Emory University

• Adam Glynn, Emory University

• Michael Leo Owens, Emory University

• Anna M Gunderson, Louisiana State University

• Joshua Tschantret