Living Between Shelter and Surveillance: Mapping the Shadow Carceral State in Budget Hotels

• In Event: Expanding Carcerality

Abstract

Research on police-community relations has largely focused on racial and ethnic disparities in law enforcement encounters, revealing that Black Americans disproportionately experience police stops, use of force, and other forms of over-policing. However, the role of place in shaping perceptions of police remains underexplored, particularly in non-traditional residential spaces. This study investigates police-community relations within extended-stay hotels (ESHs), which often serve as a housing alternative for individuals facing economic hardship, eviction histories, and barriers to rental markets. ESH residents often experience heightened vulnerability, including exposure to systemic poverty, food insecurity, and housing instability—factors that may shape their interactions with law enforcement.

Drawing on community policing theory, intersectionality, and punishment, this study addresses three key research questions: (1) How do extended-stay hotel residents describe police-community relations; (2) How do residents’ social identities (e.g., race, class, gender) shape their experiences and perceptions of police interactions; and (3) How do extended-stay hotel environments influence residents’ perceptions of safety and law enforcement effectiveness? Using secondary data from 82 qualitative interviews conducted between 2007 and 2023, we aim to provide new insights into how the ESH housing context influences police-community interactions, with implications for law enforcement practices, housing policy, and public safety initiatives.

Authors

• Lauren Morgan, Dartmouth College - REACH Lab

• Naomi Adjei, Dartmouth College - REACH Lab

• Terri D. Lewinson, Dartmouth College - REACH Lab

• Kim Skobba, Georgia State University