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Police Stop and Frisk and the Impact of Race: A Focal Concerns Theory Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Anthony Vito

    (Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Ball State University, 2000 W University Ave., Muncie, IN 47306, USA)

  • George Higgins

    (Department of Criminal Justice, University of Louisville, 2301 S 3rd St., Louisville, KY 40292, USA)

  • Gennaro Vito

    (Department of Criminal Justice, University of Louisville, 2301 S 3rd St., Louisville, KY 40292, USA)

Abstract

The findings of this study outline the racial differences in stop and frisk decisions by Illinois officers in consent searches and those based upon reasonable suspicion within the context of the elements of focal concerns theory. The analysis for this study was performed using propensity score matching (PSM) and allowed the researchers to create a quasi-experimental design to examine the race of the citizen and police decision making. According to our analysis of official Illinois law enforcement data, Black citizens, particularly males, were less likely to give their consent to a stop and frisk search. Black male citizens were also more likely to be stopped and searched due to an assessment of reasonable suspicion by the officer. Elements of focal concerns theory were also factors in pedestrian stops under conditions of consent and reasonable suspicion. Citizens judged as blameworthy were more likely to be stopped and frisked under conditions of consent and reasonable suspicion. The effect of a verbal threat and the officer’s prior knowledge about the citizen had even more significant impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Anthony Vito & George Higgins & Gennaro Vito, 2021. "Police Stop and Frisk and the Impact of Race: A Focal Concerns Theory Approach," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:10:y:2021:i:6:p:230-:d:576196
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lundman, Richard J., 2010. "Are police-reported driving while Black data a valid indicator of the race and ethnicity of the traffic law violators police stop? A negative answer with minor qualifications," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 77-87, January.
    2. Tom R. Tyler & Jeffrey Fagan & Amanda Geller, 2014. "Street Stops and Police Legitimacy: Teachable Moments in Young Urban Men's Legal Socialization," Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 11(4), pages 751-785, December.
    3. Tillyer, Rob & Hartley, Richard D., 2010. "Driving racial profiling research forward: Learning lessons from sentencing research," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 657-665, July.
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