Accessibility and Quality of Open Data in Policing

• In Event: Open Data in Policing: Enhancing Public Safety and Transparency

Abstract

Publicly available datasets on policing offer information for a wide variety of policing activities, which include the use of force, officer-involved shootings, arrests, police stops, citizen complaints, and so on. As a result of these datasets, policing research has experienced a renaissance as new and old ideas can be examined using public data. However, the quality and accessibility of publicly available datasets related to policing introduce unique problems. Specifically, police departments engaged in open data practices have a wide array of methods for collecting and disseminating their data, which leads to differences in the type of data shared, as well as the quality of the data. This research examines the 25 largest local police departments within the United States to gain an understanding of what type of data is shared publicly and the similarities and differences between available data. Findings indicate that while police departments generally share similar datasets with the public, the accessibility and quality of these datasets differ between departments. A standardized method of collecting and disseminating data is the necessary next step to improving publicly available data for policing activities.

Authors

• Felipe Salazar-Tobar, Kennesaw State University

• Tyler Keller, Rutgers University