A machine learning analysis of misconduct in the New York Police Department

Cubitt, TIC; Birch, P

A machine learning analysis of misconduct in the New York Police Department

Cubitt, TIC Birch, P

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Publisher:: Emerald
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Policing, 2021, 44, (5), pp. 800-817
Issue Date:: 2021-10-05

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Cubitt, TIC
dc.contributor.author	Birch, P https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6517-5897
dc.date.accessioned	2021-12-20T04:31:40Z
dc.date.available	2021-12-20T04:31:40Z
dc.date.issued	2021-10-05
dc.identifier.citation	Policing, 2021, 44, (5), pp. 800-817
dc.identifier.issn	1363-951X
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/152413
dc.description.abstract	Purpose: There is a paucity of data available relating to the misconduct of police officers in larger policing agencies, typically resulting in case study approaches and limited insight into the factors associated with serious misconduct. This paper seeks to contribute to the emerging knowledge base on police misconduct through analysis of 28,429 complaints among 3,830 officers in the New York Police Department, between 2000 and 2019. Design/methodology/approach: This study utilized a data set consisting of officer and complainant demographics, and officer complaint records. Machine learning analytics were employed, specifically random forest, to consider which variables were most associated with serious misconduct among officers that committed misconduct. Partial dependence plots were employed among variables identified as important to consider the points at which misconduct was most, and least likely to occur. Findings: Prior instances of serious misconduct were particularly associated with further instances of serious misconduct, while remedial action did not appear to have an impact in preventing further misconduct. Inexperience, both in rank and age, was associated with misconduct. Specific prior complaints, such as minor use of force, did not appear to be particularly associated with instances of serious misconduct. The characteristics of the complainant held more importance than the characteristics of the officer. Originality/value: The ability to analyze a data set of this size is unusual and important to progressing the knowledge area regarding police misconduct. This study contributes to the growing use of machine learning in understanding the police misconduct environment, and more accurately tailoring misconduct prevention policy and practice.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Emerald
dc.relation.ispartof	Policing
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1108/PIJPSM-11-2020-0178
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1602 Criminology
dc.subject.classification	Criminology
dc.title	A machine learning analysis of misconduct in the New York Police Department
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	44
utslib.for	1602 Criminology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/School of International Studies
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2021-12-20T04:31:38Z
pubs.issue	5
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	44
utslib.citation.issue	5

Abstract:

Purpose: There is a paucity of data available relating to the misconduct of police officers in larger policing agencies, typically resulting in case study approaches and limited insight into the factors associated with serious misconduct. This paper seeks to contribute to the emerging knowledge base on police misconduct through analysis of 28,429 complaints among 3,830 officers in the New York Police Department, between 2000 and 2019. Design/methodology/approach: This study utilized a data set consisting of officer and complainant demographics, and officer complaint records. Machine learning analytics were employed, specifically random forest, to consider which variables were most associated with serious misconduct among officers that committed misconduct. Partial dependence plots were employed among variables identified as important to consider the points at which misconduct was most, and least likely to occur. Findings: Prior instances of serious misconduct were particularly associated with further instances of serious misconduct, while remedial action did not appear to have an impact in preventing further misconduct. Inexperience, both in rank and age, was associated with misconduct. Specific prior complaints, such as minor use of force, did not appear to be particularly associated with instances of serious misconduct. The characteristics of the complainant held more importance than the characteristics of the officer. Originality/value: The ability to analyze a data set of this size is unusual and important to progressing the knowledge area regarding police misconduct. This study contributes to the growing use of machine learning in understanding the police misconduct environment, and more accurately tailoring misconduct prevention policy and practice.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/152413