Data Collection & Analysis: Lessons Learned Recommendations from Civil Rights Litigation
Document and report to supervisors instances where officers ordered members of the public to stop recording
- Report to supervisors when they believe they were recorded by the public
Record arrests on body-worn cameras and/or vehicle video equipment, when applicable
Document all arrests and detentions and include the following:
- Officer name and identification number
- Date, time, location, and duration of the incident that led to the arrest
- Apparent race, ethnicity, gender, and age of the person arrested
- Facts that established probable cause for an arrest
- Number of individuals stopped
- Whether a driver or passenger(s) were required to exit their vehicle during a vehicle stop and why
- Whether the officer approached the vehicle with their service weapon drawn
- Disposition of the stop
- Whether individual searches were conducted
- Whether searches resulted in the discovery of contraband
Submit arrest reports before the end of an officer’s shift.
- If this is not possible, complete and submit reports within 24 hours of the arrest
Obtain and track all data at the time of processing, to include:
- Notification, description, and evaluations of the arrestees’ injuries (if any)
- Any medical treatment administered to the detainee
- Results of any searches of the detainee for contraband
Develop a protocol for comprehensive analysis of arrest data
- Establish steps for determining the nature and scope of demographic disparities
- Determine whether any disparities can be decreased or eliminated
- Determine which arrest practices are most effective and efficient in increasing public safety and legitimacy within the community
Data, departmental policies, and reports summarizing analyses should be available to the public and posted online when possible.
The information provided above has come directly from the consent decree language, which can be accessed by clicking on each corresponding city’s consent decree. This information is intended to guide departments on decisions and actions to improve their Constitutional policing practices. Additional resources and information may be needed to implement these recommendations successfully. For assistance in implementing recommendations, contact the Knowledge Lab team.