Event-level outcomes of police interactions with young people in three non-metropolitan cities across British Columbia, Canada
Date
2021
Authors
Card, Kiffer G.
Selfridge, Marion
Greer, Alissa M.
Hepburn, Kirk J.
Bernard Fournier, Anabelle
Sorge, Justin
Urbanoski, Karen
Pauly, Bernie
Benoit, Cecilia
Lachowsky, Nathan J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Drug Policy
Abstract
This study examines encounters between youth and police to identify individual, contextual, and social factors that predict the outcome of these encounters. Young people aged 16–30 years were surveyed between May 2017 and June 2018 in three non-metropolitan cities across British Columbia, Canada. Outcomes were analysed using multinomial logistic generalized estimating equations. A total of 675 encounters were reported by 360 participants. These outcomes resulted in participants being questioned (n = 227; 33.6%); given warnings (n = 132; 19.6%); being searched (n = 104; 15.4%); being given a ticket (n = 101; 15.0%); and being handcuffed or arrested (n = 111; 16.4%). Young Indigenous people (vs. white) were significantly more likely to be handcuffed or arrested (OR=3.26; 1.43, 7.43). Statistical significance held after adjusting for history of police encounters and contextual factors. Findings suggest that police discretion, which has the potential to benefit youth, may be undermined by discriminatory applications of discretion.
Description
We would like to thank Bruce Wallace and Scott Wortley for their assistance with this manuscript and study and all the young people, community partners, and research associates who made this study possible. The Youth Experiences Project was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Insight Grant (#435-2016-0497). The Youth Experiences Project is supported by a Canadian HIV Trials Network / Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research Postdoctoral Fellowship award, a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) Trainee award, and a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Health Systems Impact Fellowship award. NJL is supported by a MSFHR Scholar award.
Keywords
police encounters, policing discrimination, youth, Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR)
Citation
Card, K. G., Selfridge, M., Greer, A., Hepburn, K., Fournier, A. B., Sorge, J., Urbanoski, K., Pauly, B., Benoit, C., Lachowsky, N. J., & Macdonald, S. (2021). Event-level outcomes of police interactions with young people in three non-metropolitan cities across British Columbia, Canada. International Journal of Drug Policy, 91, 102824. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102824