Statistical Analysis of Stop Data

Fred Ramsey
Oregon State University Statistics Department

Abstract: For several years the Corvallis police officers have filled out a form each time they stop a motor vehicle. These forms record many aspects of the stop, including demographics of the driver, reason for the stop, results of the stop, whether searches were requested, and the duration of the stop. The purpose of this program was to identify possible racial profiling.

Bob O'Donnell and I were asked to conduct a statistical analysis of these data covering a two-year period. The seminar will describe the statistical methodology used, some of the results obtained, and descriptions of how the results should be interpreted by a public audience.