Understanding the Relationship Between Race or Gender and Citations or Arrests in Wyandotte County, KS
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Objective: Racial injustice in policing has recently received much attention. Yet, there is little objective evidence on the link between racial injustice and policing in Kansas City. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between race or gender and citations or arrests in Wyandotte County, KS by identifying if differences existed by demographic groups. Methods: Citation data were obtained for Edwardsville and Bonner Springs from the respective municipal courts. Arrest data were obtained for Kansas City, KS from the Kansas City, KS Police Department. 2-proportion, 2-tailed Z-test was conducted to understand differences in citation or arrest rates by race and gender. Results: In all three cities, Black individuals were cited or arrested more than White individuals. White individuals were cited or arrested more than Hispanic individuals. In Edwardsville and Kansas City, males were cited or arrested more than females (p < 0.001). In Edwardsville and Kansas City, the proportion of White individuals cited or arrested was less than the White proportion of the population. The proportion of Black individuals cited or arrested was greater than the Black proportion of the population. The proportion of males cited or arrested was greater than the male proportion of the population. The proportion of females cited or arrested was less than the female proportion of the population (p < 0.001). In Bonner Springs and Kansas City, the proportion of Hispanic individuals cited or arrested was less than the Hispanic proportion of the population (p < 0.05; p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Findings identified several troubling disparities, especially when comparing White and Black individuals, males and females, Black proportions of citations or arrests and proportions of the population, and male proportions of citations or arrests and proportions of the population. This indicates a need for further research into the causes of these disparities and a need for interventions that focus on these at-risk populations.