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Abstract
| This project investigates racial disparities in arrests within La Crosse County, Wisconsin, where Black residents, despite being only 2% of the population, face disproportionately high arrest rates. The purpose of this research is to identify differences in arrest rates across various crime types and determine whether these disparities are due to differential selection or differential involvement. Using arrest data from 2018 and 2022, provided by the La Crosse County District Attorney’s Office, the study will analyze arrest rates for traffic violations, drug possession, disorderly conduct, violations of probation or pre-trial release, and violent crimes. The methodology includes t-tests and logistic regression to control for confounding variables. Expected outcomes include higher arrest rates for Black individuals in specific crime categories, highlighting potential racial bias in policing certain crimes. Conclusively, the implications of this research could inform policy changes aimed at reducing racial disparities in arrests and improving community-police relations. Future work may involve expanding the analysis to include other racial groups and exploring interventions to address identified disparities. |
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Use and reproduction restrictions
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