Degree Name

MA (Master of Arts)

Program

Criminal Justice

Date of Award

5-2021

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Chris Rush

Committee Members

Larry Miller, Dustin Osborne

Abstract

Research related to profiling and the outcome of traffic stops has generally focused on the race of the individuals involved. Little research has examined other characteristics, such as age and socioeconomic status, that may also play a role in traffic stop outcomes. The current study sought to address this limitation in two ways: (1) determine whether the characteristics of age, sex, race, social class, and demeanor are profiled during traffic stops and (2) whether these characteristics influenced the outcome of the traffic stops with regard to tickets and vehicle searches. Secondary data were utilized from the 2015 Police-Public Contact Survey. Findings revealed that not only race, but age, sex, social class, and demeanor of both the officer and the driver had an affect on the outcome of a traffic stops.

Document Type

Thesis - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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