Volume 3, Number 1, Spring 2001

Does Race Influence Police Disciplinary Processes?

Matthew J. Hickman, Brian A. Lawton, Alex R. Piquero, Jack R. Greene

Abstract

This article examines racial parity in the formal disciplinary system of the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD). Data drawn from a random sample of 499 Philadelphia police officers are linked to official data drawn from the PPD disciplinary data-base. Results suggest that about one third of the sample was charged with a disciplinary offense. When we examined the extent to which race influenced the various stages of the disciplinary process (charge, hearing, guilty), we failed to uncover a significant effect for race. This null effect was observed in both bivariate and multivariate set-tings. Implications for police practice and future research are addressed.