Distrust in Police-Civilian Interactions: An Empirical Analysis

• In Event: Poster Session 1

Abstract

Civilian distrust of police, or police distrust of civilians, enhances the risk of harm in a police-civilian interaction. Either party may perceive risk to themselves where there is none, and so act more aggressively. The recipient of aggression turns to self-defense, backing down, or compliance. Otherwise benign interactions escalate more easily. More, deteriorating relations between police and the community weakens the deterrence effect from police presence and response. The present paper theorizes and tests the effect of distrust on police-civilian interactions. Specifically, I examine (i) criminal activity, (ii) perceived risk by police, (iii) citizen aggression toward police, and (iv) police aggression toward citizens. I adopt a Regression Discontinuity in Time design that leverages the shock to public confidence in police following the death of George Floyd. The analysis is conducted on California's RIPA Stop data.

Author

• Ryan Quandt, Claremont Graduate University