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FACE TO FACE

STATISTICS FOR FACE TO FACE CONTACTS WITH POLICE

An estimated 40 million U.S. residents age 16 or older, or about 17 percent of the population, had a face-to-face contact with a police officer in 2008 [According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics] This is a continuing decrease in contact between police and

the public, down from 19 percent of residents who had contact with the police in 2005 and 21 percent who had contact in 2002. These findings are based on the Police-Public Contact Survey (PPCS), conducted every three years since 1999. The PPCS, a supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), consists of a nationally representative sample of U.S.

residents age 16 or older. Nearly 60,000 people participated in the most recent PPCS, which was conducted during the last six months of 2008.

their most recent contact in 2002 was to report a crime or problem to police, compared to about 8 million residents in 2008.

About five million fewer residents had face-to- 90% Approval Rating face contact with the Among people who had police in 2008, face-to-face contact in compared to the 45 million residents who had police contact in 2002. 2008, about nine out of 10 residents felt the police were respectful or acted properly during their most recent

1# Reason: trafc contact that year. stop

During this period, the About half of drivers most common situation who were pulled over in which people came by police said that they into contact with the police was as a driver in a traffic stop. were stopped for speeding.

85% Stop Legit 1# Reason: Report Most drivers (85 percent) who were a Crime
The second most common reason for contact with police continued to be reporting a crime or problem, although the number of contacts that occurred for this reason decreased. Nearly 12 million residents said pulled over by police during 2008 believed they were stopped for a legitimate reason.

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Genius Notes
ADDITIONAL FACTS Among persons who drove a motor vehicle during warnings or took no action during the remaining 2008, about eight percent reported that their most stops. recent contact with police in 2008 occurred as a An estimated 1.4 percent of residents said the driver in a traffic stop. police used or threatened to use force against them during their most recent contact with police Police conducted a search of the driver or the vehicle in about five percent of traffic stops in In 2008, which was not statistically different from 2008. Black drivers (12.3 percent) were about three times as likely as white drivers (3.9 percent) the percentages reported in 2002 (1.5 percent) and about two times as likely as Hispanic drivers and 2005 (1.6 percent). A majority (74 percent) of (5.8 percent) to be searched during a traffic stop. the people who said that police used or Police issued a traffic ticket to more than half of drivers (55 percent) during a traffic stop, arrested about three percent of drivers, and issued threatened force against them in 2008 said they felt it was excessive.

STORY PROMPT

JOT DOWN NOTE FOR INCLUDING YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERIENCE

CADETS...EXPERIEN CE CITIZEN CONTACT FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE.