Exploring the Impact of Early Intervention Systems on Citizen Complaints

• In Event: Police Use of Force and Early Intervention Systems

Abstract

Early interventions systems (EIS) are relatively commonly used software tools in law enforcement that are intended to identify problematic behavior by officers, allowing intervention prior to a negative incident (e.g., use of force against a citizen). While these systems are used in many law enforcement agencies, little rigorous research has been conducted to evaluate their effectiveness. This research builds on recent work investigating the relationship between implementation of an EIS and the level of citizen complaints about use of force. Previous research using bivariate comparisons found no relationship; this study replicates and extends that work to include a difference-in-differences approach. The possibility of using instrumental variables to overcome the inherent endogeneity between complaints and EIS implementation is also explored.

Author

• Zoë Thorkildsen, CNA