blog post California’s African American Community By Eric McGhee Feb 22, 2023 The African American community in California has never been large, but it has been vital to our state’s political, economic, and cultural history. We look at how California’s African American population has changed over time and how it is faring.
blog post How Often Are Firearms Confiscated During Traffic Stops? By Deepak Premkumar, Andrew Skelton, Magnus Lofstrom Feb 16, 2023 As more localities consider reforms intended to reduce police stops for minor traffic violations, it is important to evaluate how instrumental these stops are in seizing illicit firearms. We look at the state’s eight largest police departments and find significant variation in how often searches during traffic stops result in firearms being confiscated.
blog post California’s Notable Declines in Law Enforcement Staffing By Magnus Lofstrom, Brandon Martin, Andrew Skelton Feb 14, 2023 California saw a sizeable drop in staffing across law enforcement agencies between 2020 and 2021, part of a longer-term decline.
blog post Concerns about Crime Are Up, Views of Police Are Down By Deja Thomas Feb 13, 2023 The share of Californians saying that violence and street crime is a problem in their community has increased from a year ago, and the share saying that the police are doing an excellent or good job controlling crime has declined. Views on crime and policing vary notably across demographic groups, including by race and ethnicity.
blog post Video: Californians and Their Government By Vicki Hsieh Feb 10, 2023 Researchers Rachel Lawler and Dean Bonner discuss key takeaways from the latest PPIC Statewide Survey, which examines the top issues for Californians in 2023, views on homelessness and housing affordability, the level of support for the governor’s proposed state budget, and other topics.
event Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Arrests in California Feb 9, 2023 At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, California’s criminal justice system was affected by public health measures such as the statewide shelter-in-place order, along with state and local criminal justice directives intended to minimize exposure to the virus. PPIC researchers will discuss key takeaways from a new report that tracks arrest trends and explores correlations with pandemic-era policies and events.
Report Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Arrests in California By Deepak Premkumar, Thomas Sloan, Magnus Lofstrom, Joseph Hayes Feb 7, 2023 At the onset of COVID-19, California’s criminal justice system was affected by shelter-in-place orders and other public health measures, along with law enforcement directives intended to minimize exposure to the virus. We found that pandemic arrest trends mirror mobility patterns, particularly early on. But other factors, such as a shift in policing strategies, also played a role.
blog post Californians Prioritize Controlling Gun Ownership By Rachel Lawler Feb 7, 2023 Two in three Californians believe that controlling gun ownership should be prioritized over the right to own guns, and the share prioritizing gun control has grown over the last decade.
event Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government Feb 2, 2023 As the PPIC Statewide Survey celebrates its 25th year, our latest survey examines Californians’ views on some of the top issues facing the state, including the economy, housing, and homelessness. It also looks at opinions on the state budget and tracks approval of state and federal elected officials. Survey analyst Rachel Lawler will present key findings and discuss takeaways with associate survey director Dean Bonner.
blog post Police Use of Force and Racial Disparities during Traffic Stops By Deepak Premkumar, Magnus Lofstrom, Andrew Skelton Feb 2, 2023 PPIC research has found notable racial disparities in traffic stops—in both the likelihood of being stopped and the likelihood of a search, enforcement, intrusiveness, and/or use of force during that stop.