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RACE AND REPEATS: DOES THE REPETITIVE NATURE OF POLICE MOTOR VEHICLE STOPS IMPACT RACIALLY BIASED POLICING?

GROWETTE BOSTAPH, LISA M.

Abstract Details

2004, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Education : Criminal Justice.
This dissertation explores a possible use for the repeat phenomenon in examining racial disparities in police motor vehicle stops. Racial profiling, in terms of motor vehicle stops, is one of the more controversial issues in policing today and, subsequently, numerous studies and reports have been issued regarding the distribution of motor vehicle stops across the races. Beyond identifying the existence of racial disparities in motor vehicle stops, explaining why those disparities exist and how they should be addressed are relatively new topics in this growing body of research. The repeat phenomenon is an untapped resource in research on police motor vehicle stops. The repeat phenomenon is the existence of a small proportion of people or places (officers, citizens, places, victims) that account for a much larger proportion of events. In criminal justice and criminology, this phenomenon has been identified and discussed in criminal offending, victimization, locations of criminal events, and, to a lesser degree, officer behavior. The discussion, though, has not been extended to motor vehicle stops. The present study will focus on two aspects of the repeat phenomenon, officers and citizens. The existence of the repeat phenomenon in motor vehicle stops may offer a fresh insight into racial profiling. If repeat officers and citizens do exist in the realm of motor vehicle stops, what is the impact on the racial disparity uncovered in motor vehicle stop research? If a small group of officers is making the majority of motor vehicle stops, and that majority of stops has a high level of racial disparity, focusing future research on those repeat officers may lead to both explanations for and strategies to address racial profiling. In addition, if a small group of citizens accounts for a large proportion of the drivers stopped by the police, focusing future research on those repeat citizens may also lead to explanations for and strategies to address racial profiling. This study examines the existence of repeat officers and citizens in a population of motor vehicle stops in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio during a portion of the year 2001. In addition, the study will also address the impact of either (or both) repeat officers and/or citizens on the level of racial disparity in motor vehicle stops found in this dataset. Finally, areas of future research addressing possible theoretical explanations for racial disparity in motor vehicle stops will be explored.
Dr. Robin Engel (Advisor)
173 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • GROWETTE BOSTAPH, L. M. (2004). RACE AND REPEATS: DOES THE REPETITIVE NATURE OF POLICE MOTOR VEHICLE STOPS IMPACT RACIALLY BIASED POLICING? [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1100215923

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • GROWETTE BOSTAPH, LISA. RACE AND REPEATS: DOES THE REPETITIVE NATURE OF POLICE MOTOR VEHICLE STOPS IMPACT RACIALLY BIASED POLICING? 2004. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1100215923.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • GROWETTE BOSTAPH, LISA. "RACE AND REPEATS: DOES THE REPETITIVE NATURE OF POLICE MOTOR VEHICLE STOPS IMPACT RACIALLY BIASED POLICING?" Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2004. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1100215923

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)