Report Pandemic Policymaking and Changed Outcomes in Criminal Courts By Heather Harris Apr 12, 2023 California’s criminal courts quickly adopted policies to address COVID-19. But uneven adoption around the state affected who might face those policies—as well as whether people were convicted and the sentences handed out. In particular, remote hearings contributed to racial differences in outcomes, which may influence whether such hearings continue.
blog post Californians Fear Being a Victim of Crime, and Some Have Been Victims of Racial Profiling By Deja Thomas Mar 14, 2023 A recent PPIC Statewide Survey finds that nearly two in three Californians worry that they or a family member will be a victim of crime. Meanwhile, one in three say they or someone they know have been victims of racial profiling, with Black Californians more likely than other groups to say this.
blog post Video: Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Arrests in California By Mary Severance Feb 17, 2023 PPIC researcher Deepak Premkumar discusses findings from a new report that examines arrest trends in the early part of the pandemic and outlines key factors that require further research.
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.
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.
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.
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.
blog post Commentary: What Do We Need to Learn about Preventing Mass Shootings? By Heather Harris Sep 29, 2022 Mass shootings have grown more prevalent over time. Reversing this trend will involve evidence-based approaches to protecting public spaces, stopping would-be shooters, and addressing how weapons are acquired.
