Policing Political Protest Events: Risks and Challenges

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Political protests can be unpredictable, and they sometimes lead to violence. As such, political protests represent significant challenges for police agencies. Della Porta, Peterson, & Reiter (2006) stated that following the 1968 protest cycle, there was, “a return to the massive use of force, especially oriented toward temporary incapacitation…” (pg 182). While use of force is sometimes necessary to maintain safety and order, evidence suggests that authoritarian approaches to policing crowds can instigate, rather than suppress violence. Accurately predicting the outcome of protests could help police to better prepare for these events. However, little research has been conducted to identify protest characteristics associated with violent outcomes. This study will examine protest factors, such as officer to protester ratio, type of protest, and protest location, to determine which are associated with violent outcomes. These findings may inform the development of political protest risk assessment instruments and assist police with planning and resource deployment.

Author

• Logan Kennedy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas