Why do jurisdictions begin to collect data?
There are many reasons why a jurisdiction might choose to collect data. The collection of statistics and the expansion of information about police practices will allow departments to more effectively allocate resources, build trust and respect in communities, identify potential police misconduct, determine the best stop-and-search practices, and send a clear message to the community and to other police departments that racial profiling is inconsistent with effective police and equal protection and that the jurisdiction does not practice it. On a logistical level, jurisdictions might begin to collect data voluntarily, because the issue has become an important one in the area; based on state legislation or local ordinances that require data collection; because of a consent decree that resulted from a federal pattern and practice lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice; or because of a settlement from a lawsuit brought by private parties.
