Exploring Experiences and Perceptions of Police Raids

• In Event: International Policing Research

Abstract

Instances of police misconduct often have media appeal, but are typically reported on after charges have been laid against the police officers involved. This may limit how we see and understand cases of police misconduct in Canada, particularly since so few of these experiences are officially reported. To date, limited Canadian research has explored experiences of police search and seizure practices, particularly within marginalized communities in our inner cities. Based on qualitative interviews with individuals who have experienced police raids, our pilot project explores experiences and perceptions of mistreatment by police during criminal investigations within Toronto’s downtown neighborhoods. We examine individual's accounts of their experiences with police, with an emphasis on women and ethnic minorities who have experienced police raids, and unpack how these experiences may influence cooperation with police services in the future.

Authors

• Carolyn Greene, Athabasca University

• Marta-Marika Urbanik, University of Alberta