You, Me, and a Search Makes Three: Predicting Searches and Contraband in Traffic Stops

• In Event: Issues with Police Tactics and Techniques

Abstract

While officers’ discretionary stops of citizens remain a fertile ground for research, what occurs after a stop is at the forefront of current community discussions around policing. One of the more invasive outcomes of the decision to stop is a search, the result of which may have important consequences for later criminal justice system involvement. This study seeks to identify significant predictors of the decision to search and the likelihood of finding contraband among a sample of traffic stops in a large Midwestern city. Individual characteristics of citizens and officers are examined, as well as situational characteristics of the stop. Findings of regression analyses and policy implications will be addressed.

Authors

• Lisa Growette Bostaph, Boise State University

• Matthew C. Matusiak, University of Central Florida