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Experimental Research Examining How People Can Cope with Uncertainty Through Soft Haptic Sensations

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Published on: September 16, 2015

Bad apples and incredible certitude.

Michael Sierra-Arévalo¹, Andrew Papachristos²

¹Department of Sociology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.

Criminology & Public Policy

|May 13, 2024

Summary

Removing "bad apples" may be more effective at reducing police misconduct than previously thought. Accounting for network spillovers significantly increases estimated impacts, suggesting this approach offers substantial benefits.

Keywords:

incredible certitude misconduct policing policy spillover effects

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Area of Science:

Criminology
Public Policy
Data Science

Background:

Police misconduct, including excessive force and civilian complaints, poses significant challenges to public trust and safety.
Previous research has explored various interventions to mitigate police misconduct.
The effectiveness of removing "bad apple" officers remains a subject of debate.

Purpose of the Study:

To critically evaluate the conclusions of Chalfin and Kaplan (CK) regarding the impact of incapacitating "bad apple" officers on police misconduct.
To re-examine the efficacy of removing underperforming officers by incorporating network spillover effects.
To assess the policy implications of different approaches to reducing police misconduct.

Main Methods:

Simulation analyses using data on police complaints and uses of force from the Chicago Police Department.
Critique of CK's selective use of simulation results.
Incorporation of network spillover effects into misconduct analyses.

Main Results:

CK's conclusion that incapacitating officers has minimal effects on misconduct is challenged.
When network spillovers are considered, the estimated impact of removing "bad apples" can be up to five times larger.
The effectiveness of removing "bad apples" is comparable to other interventions aimed at reducing police misconduct.

Conclusions:

The removal of "bad apple" officers is a potentially effective strategy for reducing police misconduct.
Policy decisions should consider the broader impacts, including network spillovers, when evaluating interventions.
Reducing police misconduct yields significant benefits in terms of reduced human suffering and financial costs, making the pursuit of officer accountability a moral imperative.