Understanding the Relationship Between Race or Gender and Citations or Arrests in Wyandotte County, KS
Abstract
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.