STUDIES:   

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“In cities with relatively large Black populations, the returns to police manpower in reducing homicides and index crime arrests are smaller or non-existent for Black civilians, while Black civilians experience especially large increases in low-level or ‘quality of life’ arrests."

Police Force Size and Civilian Race Police Force Size and Civilian Race We also observe that, in both absolute and per capita terms, the burdens of “quality of life” arrests resulting from police force expansions are especially large for Black civilians in these cities. Critically, the benefits of a reduction in index crime arrests do not accrue to Black civilians in these cities, in contrast with the average effects we observe across the pooled sample. We also observe that, in both absolute and per capita terms, the burdens of “quality of life” arrests resulting from police force expansions are especially large for Black civilians in these cities. Critically, the benefits of a reduction in index crime arrests do not accrue to Black civilians in these cities, in contrast with the average effects we observe across the pooled sample.
Police Force Size and Civilian Race
NBER working paper
Chalfin, Aaron / Hansen, Benjamin / Weisburst, Emily K. / Williams, Morgan C., Jr.
December 2020
10.3386/w28202
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