Marijuana Arrests in New York City: A Shift in Focus
Author Information
Author(s): Andrew Golub, Bruce D. Johnson, Eloise Dunlap
Primary Institution: Department of Sociology, University of Vermont
Hypothesis
QOL policing has targeted public spaces for MPV arrests.
Conclusion
The study found that MPV arrests in NYC shifted from highly public areas to poorer neighborhoods with higher concentrations of black and Hispanic residents over time.
Supporting Evidence
- By 2000, marijuana in public view arrests accounted for 15% of all arrests in NYC.
- Most MPV arrests were recorded in high poverty, minority communities outside lower Manhattan.
- 83% of marijuana arrests were for criminal possession of marijuana in the fifth degree.
Takeaway
The police used to arrest people for smoking marijuana in busy places, but now they mostly arrest people in poorer neighborhoods.
Methodology
The study analyzed arrest records and census data to evaluate the geographic distribution of marijuana arrests from 1992 to 2003.
Potential Biases
The analysis may not account for the actual locations where marijuana is smoked, potentially skewing the understanding of arrest demographics.
Limitations
The census data provides a single snapshot of the population and may undercount certain demographics.
Participant Demographics
The majority of MPV arrestees were black or Hispanic, with percentages ranging from 74% to 91% from 1980 to 2003.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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