Assessing Procedural Justice Using Text Messaging

• In Event: Measuring Bias and Procedural Justice during Police-Community Encounters (Organized by the Division of Policing)

Abstract

This presentation will highlight the use of sms technology to conduct brief surveys with civilians who have had a recent encounter with the police. Using sms we achieved better than a 20% response rate for the Madison, WI Police Department with an initial invitation and just one reminder. Combining sms and telephone follow-ups, we achieved nearly a 40% response rate in a study with the Prince Georges MD Police Department. A third study with the Portland, OR Police Department is comparing sms, letter, and phone survey methodologies in terms of response rates, subpopulations reached, and survey response content. Text surveys are proving to generate response rates in contact surveys not too different from traditional modalities at far lower cost.

Author

• Rob Davis, The National Police Foundation