If I could get everyone to read one journalistic article about predictive policing (the subject of my IDEA Grant research project I spent the majority of my summer conducting) It would be “Targeted” by Kathleen McGrory and Neil Bedi, with photos by Douglas R. Clifford via the Tampa Bay Times.
Link to the article here: https://projects.tampabay.com/projects/2020/investigations/police-pasco-sheriff-targeted/intelligence-led-policing/
These journalists did an excellent job reporting on Pasco County’s Intelligence-led Policing Program, which predicted “prolific offenders” in Pasco and concentrated deputy efforts on people whose names ended up on this list. The program was discontinued in 2023 due to community outrage, but by this point, the damage had already been done for many Pasco residents who were continually harassed by law enforcement due to the police force’s algorithm-based criminal predictions.
Growing up in Pasco County, it was journalism like this that spread awareness of the issue throughout our community. This led to the Institute for Justice representing the victims of Pasco’s predictive policing program in a case that is still pending. Although the program has been discontinued for now in Pasco, similar predictive policing programs have been growing in prevalence as rapid advancements in technology outpace the legislation that governs their usage. Seeing the way my community was impacted by these technologies inspired me to research predictive policing programs across the country to evaluate the issue as one of human rights.
One of the most rewarding parts of my research journey so far has been raising awareness of this issue among my peers and professionals. I presented my preliminary findings at two academic conferences in 2023, and this Fall, I will be presenting my IDEA Grant project at the President’s Showcase on October 10th. Using my research as advocacy for protection against harmful law enforcement-sanctioned surveillance is one of the primary motivating factors for this project.
HSF House Blogs 