Morgan’s Institute for Urban Research Releases Study Detailing Community’s Perceptions of and Experiences with the Baltimore City Police Department

Some Key Takeaways:

• The majority of survey participants disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement that BPD effectively reduces crime and keeps people safe.

• A majority of survey participants reported that they had observed BPD engaging in racial profiling, using excessive force and using verbally abusive language toward civilians.
• Survey participants reported wanting to build or improve relationships between BPD and their community.
  

The U.S. Department of Justice Grant-Funded Report, One Year-Plus in the Making,

Comes in the Wake of a 2017 Consent Decree 

BALTIMORE — In a follow-up to the 2017 Consent Decree between the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the City of Baltimore and the Baltimore City Police Department (BPD), Morgan State University’s Institute for Urban Research (IUR) was commissioned to conduct a preliminary survey to evaluate community sentiment related to local law enforcement. After an extensive grassroots effort that began on Sept. 30, 2018 and concluded on June 30, 2019, the IUR released its data collection in a comprehensive examination: “Community’s Experiences and Perceptions of the Baltimore City Police Survey Report.” The release of the report’s findings comes following the fifth anniversary of the death of Freddie Gray Jr.

After responding to a call for proposals, the Institute for Urban Research was selected by the Baltimore Police Monitoring Team to conduct the community survey. The study involved interviews of 645 survey respondents representing a large and diverse sample of people living in Baltimore City. Natasha C. Pratt-Harris, Ph.D., an associate professor and Criminal Justice Program coordinator of Morgan’s Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and (Criminology/Criminal Justice), served as the principal investigator, directing a research team of coordinators and interviewers. The completed report was shared with the Baltimore City Police Department and the Monitoring Team. The entire report can be downloaded or viewed online.  
CLICK TO REVIEW THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASE
** INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE **