What Factors Influence Police Discretion for Cannabis-Related Offenses?

Maria Johnston* and Jesse Wozniak

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Presentation Category: Oral-Behavioral & Social Sciences (Oral Presentation #50)

Student’s Major: Forensic Biology

In 2015, the Pittsburgh City Council voted to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of cannabis. With this decriminalization, however, officers still have the discretion to either issue a citation or arrest. It has been shown that Black people and other minority groups, although possessing and using cannabis at the same frequency of White people, are more likely to be arrested for their possession or use. After about four years of the policy being taken into effect, this study aims to answer the question of whether there is a significant difference in the frequency of arrests versus citations given to minorities compared to the frequency of arrests versus citations given to White people for cannabis possession and/or use. Arrest and citation data were collected from the Pittsburgh police from August of 2016 through September of 2020. This data includes information on the offense, race and age of the offender, location and time of the arrest or citation. Our aim is for this study and its findings is to be able to contribute to the broader discussion relating to the disparities in the justice system between minorities and Whites in America.

Funding:

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: WVU's Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) & accompanying HONR 297-level course