Officials trying to reform law enforcement face a dearth of reliable data, such as on racial bias, writes DrPhilGoff
. It is long past time to invest in better data to inform decisions about policing in America.
We do not know exactly what these rebuilt systems will look like, although focusing on more tailored, less violent solutions to social ills such as homelessness or substance abuse is a good place to start. There will undoubtedly be setbacks and successes along the way. Accurate information produces better decisions and reduces the risk that policies will be ineffective.
The structure of American policing does not lend itself to the standardised data collection needed for rigorous analysis. The United States has roughly 18,000 law-enforcement agencies, each with a unique approach to collecting, storing and aggregating its data. Some agencies barely collect any data at all. As a result, we lack answers to basic questions such as how many police interactions occur each year or the number of incidents that send someone to the hospital.
After his death, Reno police estimated that Murray had cost taxpayers over $1m in ineffective interventions. As America undertakes a monumental reinvention of public safety, policymakers need quality data to avoid these kinds of mistakes. Knowing how we use or misuse various public-safety tools will also help us avoid disastrous pitfalls.
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