How Effective Are Police? The Problem of Clearance Rates and Criminal Accountability

Baughman, Shima Baradaran

doi:10.2139/ssrn.3566383

Cited by 11 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Furthermore, Baughman (2020) demonstrates that the overall true arrest rate in the US in 2018 was 10.57%, which is lower than expected. Additionally, the conviction rate would be lower than the arrest rate since not all arrests result in conviction (Baughman, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Although the actual probability of arrest varies depending on the type of crime, it does not appear to be as high as one might think. For instance, in the US in 2018, Baughman (2020) estimated the true arrest rates (known crimes compared to the arrest rates for those crimes): 80.95% for murder, 37.41% for aggravated assault, 15.38% for robbery, and 6.77% for burglary. Furthermore, Baughman (2020) demonstrates that the overall true arrest rate in the US in 2018 was 10.57%, which is lower than expected.…”

Section: The Effect Of Political Misinformation/informationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, in the US in 2018, Baughman (2020) estimated the true arrest rates (known crimes compared to the arrest rates for those crimes): 80.95% for murder, 37.41% for aggravated assault, 15.38% for robbery, and 6.77% for burglary. Furthermore, Baughman (2020) demonstrates that the overall true arrest rate in the US in 2018 was 10.57%, which is lower than expected. Additionally, the conviction rate would be lower than the arrest rate since not all arrests result in conviction (Baughman, 2020).…”

Section: The Effect Of Political Misinformation/informationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Law enforcement and political misinformation

Yamaguchi,

Yahagi

2023

Journal of Theoretical Politics

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Why is criminal law enforcement increasingly punitive, despite that the situation has improved for decades? This paper investigates this question from the perspective of political misinformation. To this end, we develop a law enforcement model with political competition and examine how political parties’ campaigns affect voters’ perceptions of crime and equilibrium law enforcement policy. In a political campaign stage, we show that one political party has an incentive to overstate the severity of crime, while the other party has an incentive to correct voters’ beliefs. However, although the two parties attempt to change voters’ beliefs in opposite directions, we find that the total effect of a political campaign is more likely to drive both parties’ policies in a harsh direction.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: The Effect Of Political Misinformation/informationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Effect Of Political Misinformation/informationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Law enforcement and political misinformation

Yamaguchi,

Yahagi

2023

Journal of Theoretical Politics

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“…While police budgets remain bloated, the police are not as successful as people think at solving violent crime. The metric commonly used to measure police effectiveness at solving crime is a "clearance rate," which refers to the proportion of reported crimes for which police arrest someone and turn him or her over to prosecution for a reported crime (Baughman, 2020). While most assume that police are effective at solving crime, the clearance rates for violent crime are quite low.…”

Section: Reallocatementioning

confidence: 99%

“Defund the police:” Perceptions among protesters in the 2020 March on Washington

Cobbina

Chaudhuri

LaCourse

et al. 2022

Criminology & Public Policy

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Research summary: Using qualitative interviews, this study examines how protesters with varying levels of commitment to the Black Lives Matter movement perceive the slogan defund the police. Findings indicate while a small number had reservations regarding the term, the vast majority of protesters associate defunding as a two‐step process that starts with reduction of police budgets, followed by reallocation of these resources toward much needed services in the very communities the departments serve. Findings also revealed prior engagement with the Black Lives Matter movement, and the level of commitment of participants did play an important role in being able to provide nuanced context to the call for action. Policy implications: Implementation of reduction of police budgets indicates a need to reimagine the role and function of police in most affected communities. In addition, there is a need to reinvest in local resources that would provide the much needed support toward marginalized communities. Further, social movement organizations should partner with corporate brands and advertising agencies to effectively promote their goals and slogans toward a diverse range of audience in media.

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“…Adding to this lack of information about investigations is the fact that crime resolution rates in the US remain consistently low. We note that there are different definitions of what crime “resolution” or “clearance” might encompass (see discussions by Baughman, 2020; Bottomley and Pease, 1986; Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2017; Greene, 2007), and some agencies inconsistently classify crimes as cleared (see, e.g. Spohn and Tellis, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effective police investigative practices: an evidence-assessment of the research

Prince

Lum

Koper

2021

PIJPSM

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PurposeDetective work is a mainstay of modern law enforcement, but its effectiveness has been much less evaluated than patrol work. To explore what is known about effective investigative practices and to identify evidence gaps, the authors assess the current state of empirical research on investigations.Design/methodology/approachThe authors assess the empirical research about the effectiveness of criminal investigations and detective work in resolving cases and improving clearance rates.FindingsThe authors’ analysis of the literature produced 80 studies that focus on seven categories of investigations research, which include the impact that case and situational factors, demographic and neighborhood dynamics, organizational policies and practices, investigative effort, technology, patrol officers and community members have on case resolution. The authors’ assessment shows that evaluation research examining the effectiveness of various investigative activities is rare. However, the broader empirical literature indicates that a combination of organizational policies, investigative effort and certain technologies can be promising in improving investigative outcomes even in cases deemed less solvable.Research limitations/implicationsFrom an evidence-based perspective, this review emphasizes the need for greater transparency, evaluation and accountability of investigative activities given the resources and importance afforded to criminal investigations.Originality/valueThis review is currently the most up-to-date review of the state of the research on what is known about effective investigative practices.

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How Effective Are Police? The Problem of Clearance Rates and Criminal Accountability

Abstract: for research support, and especially to Jessica Morrill, for data gathering and empirical work.

Cited by 11 publications

References 18 publications

Law enforcement and political misinformation

Law enforcement and political misinformation

“Defund the police:” Perceptions among protesters in the 2020 March on Washington

Effective police investigative practices: an evidence-assessment of the research

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