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School suspension, expulsion more likely to predict youth drug use than police arrest

A new study found that school suspension and expulsion are more effective predictors of youth drug use than police arrests, particularly among minority youth. The research suggests that removing students from school can facilitate drug use due to lack of supervision, whereas being arrested does not necessarily lead to drug use.

SourceCrime and Justice Research Alliance·JournalJustice Quarterly·DateFeb 5, 2019

Police interactions linked to increased risk of client violence for female sex workers

Researchers found that street-based FSWs with more frequent abusive police interactions had a higher risk of client violence, emphasizing the need for interventions addressing relationships between FSW and police. The study also highlights the importance of decriminalizing sex work to alleviate pressure on these women.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateDec 20, 2018

FSU researcher: Unfair treatment by police linked to physiological impacts among black men

A new study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior found a strong link between unfair treatment by police and telomere length, a biological indicator of psychological stress, among black men. Telomeres were shorter for those reporting unfair treatment, and the link was more pronounced in black men.

SourceFlorida State University·JournalJournal of Health and Social Behavior·DateDec 18, 2018

Mathematical model offers new strategies for urban burglary prevention

A new mathematical model, inspired by age-dependent population models, analyzes urban burglary patterns and identifies key factors influencing repeat victimization. The model takes into account a burglar's age and a house's susceptibility to robbery based on its age, providing a flexible framework for prevention strategies.

SourceSociety for Industrial and Applied Mathematics·JournalSIAM Journal on Applied Dynamical Systems·DateDec 4, 2018

Study identifies factors that predict opposition to the Black Lives Matter Movement

A new study found that older individuals, Republicans, and males are more likely to oppose the BLM movement. In contrast, Blacks and those who perceive racial bias against them are less likely to oppose it. The study also revealed a link between opposition to BLM and red states with lower voting patterns for Mitt Romney in 2012.

SourceCrime and Justice Research Alliance·JournalJustice Quarterly·DateOct 25, 2018

Individuals shot by police exhibit distinct patterns of recent prior hospitalizations and arrests

A study found that individuals shot by police have arrest histories similar to those involved in assaults and homicides, and medical histories similar to those with self-inflicted firearm injuries. The study identified patterns among intent-specific firearm injuries, including increased risk of interpersonal and self-directed violence,...

SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateAug 16, 2018

Weather and daily governance

A study analyzed weather data from various sources in the US from 2000 to 2017, revealing links between temperature and risk of fatal crashes, food safety violations, and police stops. Climate projections suggest future warming may impact regulatory oversight, with potential implications for governance.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 13, 2018

Surrey develops new crime fighting algorithm that could predict reoccurring illegal activity

Researchers developed an Ensemble Poisson Kalman Filter (EnPKF) algorithm that combines urban crime data and ETAS model for real-time forecasts on crime rates and predicted hotspots. The algorithm has been tested on over 1000 violent gang crimes in Los Angeles, showing promise as a tool to support law enforcement

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalComputational Statistics & Data Analysis·DateJul 24, 2018

Empathetic police are less effective in the face of public criticism, study says

A new study from the University of Texas at Austin found that empathetic police officers who feel undervalued perform poorly in their duties. In contrast, conservative officers with punitive approaches to justice tend to maintain high performance levels despite public criticism. Policymakers are urged to address the issue by implementi...

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalAdministrative Science Quarterly·DateJun 28, 2018

Cyclist/motorist crashes worse at stop/give way junctions

A QUT study found that cyclists are more seriously hurt in crashes with motor vehicles at intersections with 'Stop' or 'Give-way' signs than at intersections with traffic signals. The study, analyzing 13 years of Queensland police crash records, found drivers were most often at fault at these intersections.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalTransportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board·DateMay 24, 2018

Study: Guns in Chicago just '2.5 handshakes' away

A recent study by Northwestern University researchers used network science to map the gun market in Chicago, finding that individuals are on average 2.5 handshakes away from a gun. Gang membership was found to reduce this distance by 27 percent, highlighting the role of gangs in facilitating access to guns.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of Urban Health·DateMay 22, 2018

Police violence takes 'substantial' toll on youth and people of color

Research estimates that police violence resulted in over 57,000 years of life lost in 2015-16, disproportionately affecting young people and people of color. The study uses The Counted database to track deaths and injuries due to police violence, highlighting the need for better data to inform policy.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·DateMay 7, 2018

What happens to stolen guns?

According to Philip Cook's analysis, gun thefts represent only about one percent of all gun transactions in the US. In Chicago, only a tiny proportion of crime guns were ever reported stolen to the Police Department.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of Urban Health·DateApr 25, 2018

IUPUI field-data study finds no evidence of racial bias in predictive policing

The study, led by George Mohler, found no statistically significant difference in arrest rates by ethnic group between predictive policing and standard patrol practices. The researchers also discovered that arrests were higher in algorithmically-selected areas but remained unchanged when adjusted for crime rates.

BU: Police shootings reflect structural racism

A new study by Boston University School of Public Health researchers found a strong association between structural racism and racial disparities in fatal police shootings at the state level. States with higher levels of residential segregation had higher rates of unarmed black victims killed by police, even controlling for arrest rates.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalJournal of the National Medical Association·DateFeb 5, 2018

Racial, political identities influence how people view cause of deadly police encounters

A recent study by University of Kansas researchers found that people's racial and political identities strongly influence how they view the causes of deadly police encounters. African Americans, liberals, and Democrats generally attribute fatal encounters to broader problems in policing. The researchers recommend that police department...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalAnalyses of Social Issues and Public Policy·DateDec 13, 2017