The Washington Post Police Shootings Dataset: A Statistical Analysis
The Washington Post has compiled an extensive dataset on police shootings in the United States from 2015-2022. This dataset provides important insights that can be uncovered using statistical analysis methods. In this post, I will provide a high-level overview of the dataset and discuss a few key findings that emerge from basic statistical analyses. The dataset contains detailed information on over 6,000 fatal police shootings over the 8-year period. Each shooting is documented with variables such as the date, location, alleged offense by the victim, and other circumstances surrounding the incident.
Some initial statistical insights:
– Frequencies: The data show there were between 200-250 police shootings per quarter from 2015-2020. The numbers began increasing in 2021.
– Trends over time: Statistical modeling of the data over time suggests an increasing trend in the number of quarterly fatal police shootings from 2015-2022. However, more complex time series analysis would be required to formally test this upward trend.
– Geography: Mapping the shootings by location shows clusters in major metropolitan areas, suggesting demographic and population factors drive shooting prevalence. Statistical testing could formally assess geographic variability.
This brief overview demonstrates the wealth of insights statistical methods can provide on this important dataset. More advanced modeling and testing could further examine predictors and trends around police violence across the United States. The Washington Post database provides a valuable resource for ongoing statistical analysis of policing practices and outcomes.