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Stop Data Collection and Analysis
Dr. Lamberth developed the nation's first racial profiling methodology in 1993. Since that time, we have enhanced our methods and developed the industry best practices. In all of our engagements, we seek not only to perform objectives statistical analysis, but also to partner with all racial profiling stakeholders to affect positive outcomes for law enforcement and their corresponding communities. We provide:
Please contact us at info@lamberthconsulting.com to learn more. |
Over 300 police departments have voluntarily agreed to begin collecting stop data as a first step towards addressing community concerns. We have worked with large and small departments to help them develop and manage the collection method that fits their need. We can help by providing:
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Assistance in determining which data elements should be collected, and that can be compared against a reliable benchmark for future comparison |
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Advice on the best data capture method - scanable forms, hand-held devices, MDU, or radio dispatch |
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Stop Data training to inform and educate officers on why these programs are necessary, and to develop specific skills to ensure data is captured right the first time |
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Assistance in how to manage the program to ensure that data is reviewed properly, maintained, and reduced into electronic format if needed |
Dr. Lamberth developed the nation’s first benchmark survey in 1993. Since that time, we have reviewed and revised these surveys so they can be implemented in highway, urban, suburban, and pedestrian areas. These surveys measure the percentages of minorities traveling the roadways, and are used as the most valid measure against which to compare stop data. We can help by providing:
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Fully run surveys including designs, surveyors, and data reduction |
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Guidance, methods and plans for designing the surveys |
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Specific, hands-on training for surveyors, and survey team leads |
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Project management tools to ensure that surveying is done correctly, and according to schedule |
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Inter-rater-reliability tests to measure the quality of the data captured |
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Analysis and review to compare Point to Point survey results against other data points such as census, arrest, search, and accident data |
Understanding the perspectives and baseline knowledge of the officers, or community can be an important component of properly responding to racial profiling concerns. More data and knowledge enables executives to make better, targeted decisions. Since 1973, Dr. Lamberth has developed survey research instruments, and administered them to large and small communities alike. We can assist in conducting survey research by:
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Designing survey instruments to uncover community, officer or other stakeholder perspectives about a range of issues from sentiment about biased police practices, to comprehension of how and why officers perform the jobs in the manner that they do |
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Providing telephone services to capture the data |
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Analyzing survey results and reporting findings to key stakeholders |
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Comparing results to data collection and analysis efforts, and providing recommendations for working with officers and communities |
The success of each law enforcement agency addressing the issue of racial profiling is directly related to their ability to effectively engage and partner with the community they serve. An effective law enforcement and community partnership is predicated on each group’s willingness and ability to engage in open, honest and constructive dialogue. This means not only understanding the surface concerns, but also identifying the root causes of those concerns so that communications and activities undertaken are targeted, and meet stakeholder expectations. As an independent and objective third party facilitator we provide focus groups for law enforcement and communities to meet a variety of needs:
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Articulate officer, and/or community perceptions about the issue. How pervasive are concerns? Are concerns solely based upon current events, or have past events exacerbated perceptions? What do the stakeholders feel must be done? |
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Gauge reactions to past and current activities. Are the agencies actions having a positive effect on officers and the community? How critical are officers and community members of agency strategies to address the issue? How deep is the mistrust in the community, and what can be done to bridge those gaps? |
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How knowledgeable are stakeholders on the issue? What misperceptions about racial profiling exists that may exacerbate concerns? Do community members understand why officers act the way they do? Do officers understand the impacts of their communications on community members? |
After the data is collected, managing and analyzing the data are the critical next steps. We have comprised a team of Data Entry personnel that focus specifically on accurately reducing any paper-based data so that it can be read by statistical packages such as SAS or SPSS. Our data entry system includes:
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Trained data-reduction personnel that quickly, accurately reduce data |
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Quality assurance techniques such as frequent cross checks, and random sampling by data reduction supervisors |
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A document management system to ensure the integrity of source documents |
We understand the need for law enforcement agencies to manage the project so that agency morale stays high, and so that department performance does not suffer. Agencies and officers MUST be involved in the process – without it, studies will not be targeted and they may not provide accurate results. Ultimately, opportunities to educate and engage officers to affect positive outcomes will be missed. We provide:
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Best practices and lessons learned on how agencies across the country have managed department morale and education during assessment studies |
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Communication plans and tools that can be used to introduce the issue in a respectful, yet no-nonsense manner |
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Policy statements and agency procedures designed to manage department expectations and officer conduct |
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Access to the latest research and national responses to the issue |
Communities that are not involved in the process may be skeptical of methods and results. We provide education, perspective and information to community stakeholders concerned about objectivity and study outcomes. We have a long history in working with community groups, and we understand community concerns about how racial profiling studies are conducted, the objectivity of the study, and if officers are involved in the study, how and why. We provide:
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A national reputation for having the best methodology, most experienced team, and objective, non-partial reporting on study results, conclusions and recommendations |
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Community presentations and meetings to educate and inform stakeholders |
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Education to community interests on why and how the agency must be involved in these studies |
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Opportunities for community participation through observation, education and workshops |
Completing complex projects requires not only know-how and experience, but the capability to execute the work accurately, on time, and with a high-degree of quality. We train all project managers in the tools and techniques required to ensure that the project is done right. On every project, we incorporate:
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Project timelines and work plans to set expectations for the sequence of events and roles and responsibilities |
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Project charter documents designed to introduce how the project team will work together, how the team will deal with contingencies, and potential challenges and risks to expect on the project |
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Status meetings and reports to ensure that all project team members are informed in a timely manner about project progress, issues, events and risks |
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Quality assurance reviews to ensure that the project is proceeding according to plan, and to help the team recognize additional risks to getting the work done |
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