blog post Video: Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops By Vicki Hsieh Oct 21, 2022 PPIC policy director Magnus Lofstrom presents new research on racial inequities in traffic stops by police, and an expert panel discusses potential ways to reduce disparities without jeopardizing public safety.
blog post Violent Crimes Involving Guns Drive Recent Rise in Crime By Magnus Lofstrom, Brandon Martin Oct 19, 2022 While overall violent crime in California has risen slightly during the pandemic, homicides by firearms and aggravated assaults involving a gun have both surged since 2019.
event Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops Oct 13, 2022 Traffic stops are a key factor in racial disparities in law enforcement encounters. PPIC researcher Magnus Lofstrom will present new findings on how disparities in traffic stops differ across agency type, type of traffic violation, and time of day. Then a panel of state and local experts will discuss the challenges of traffic enforcement and alternative approaches that could potentially improve officer and civilian safety while reducing racial inequities.
Report Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops By Magnus Lofstrom, Joseph Hayes, Brandon Martin, Deepak Premkumar Oct 10, 2022 Traffic stops have emerged as a key driver of racial disparities in law enforcement and an area of potential reform. Our new report examines whether certain types of traffic stops could be enforced in alternative ways that reduce racial disparities and risks to officers and civilians without jeopardizing public safety.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops By Magnus Lofstrom, Joseph Hayes, Brandon Martin, Deepak Premkumar Oct 10, 2022 Our findings suggest that nighttime traffic stops for non-moving violations—especially those made by local police and sheriff departments—deserve consideration for alternative enforcement strategies. However, any changes need to be balanced against the possibility of hampering efforts to confiscate dangerous contraband, especially firearms.
blog post Solid Majorities of Californians View Crime as a Problem By Dean Bonner Sep 27, 2022 Nearly two in three Californians, including solid majorities across most regions of the state, say that violence and street crime in their community are a problem. Three in ten statewide say violence and street crime are a big problem, an increase from prior to the pandemic.
blog post Crime Trends in Context By Magnus Lofstrom Jun 30, 2022 At a town hall held by Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, PPIC’s Magnus Lofstrom discussed what research has found about the consequences of key criminal justice reforms and the pattern of long-term crime trends in California and Contra Costa County.
blog post Two Years of Wide Variation in Crime Trends By Magnus Lofstrom, Brandon Martin Mar 21, 2022 Increases in crime during the first year and a half of the pandemic—particularly in homicide and aggravated assault—have been troubling, but most crime numbers are now relatively close to the low levels seen over the last decade.
blog post Historic Law Aims to Improve Police Accountability and Transparency By Deepak Premkumar, Shannon McConville Feb 25, 2022 A new California law bars police officers who commit serious misconduct from serving in any of the state’s law enforcement agencies and also aims to make data on misconduct more accessible.
blog post New Law Raises Standards for Police Officers By Shannon McConville, Deepak Premkumar Jan 26, 2022 A new state law raises the minimum age for law enforcement—from 18 to 21—and requires California’s community college system to create a new policing degree program. How might these changes affect the law enforcement workforce?
