SFPD Stop Data Dashboards

The following section provides relevant definitions, data sources, and data usage notes about the “Total Number of Stops, Searches, and Bookings” dashboard. Data is presented in this dashboard from July 1, 2018 onwards.
 

Stops, Searches, and Bookings

• A Stop is defined as “any detention by a peace officer of a person.” This definition comes from Section 999.224 of the California Code of Regulations. In other words, when an individual is stopped by law enforcement and is not free to go without the officer’s permission. Stops include both pedestrian stops and traffic stops. Stop data is collected by the San Francisco Police Department. The Police Department Stop Data on the San Francisco Open Data Portal is the source for this information.
• A Search is defined as “a search of a person's body or property in the person's possession or under his or her control.” This definition comes from Section 999.224 of the California Code of Regulations. In other words, when a police officer searches through what a person may be carrying, holding, or wearing, as well as anything in the person’s car if they were driving when stopped. A stop may not necessarily lead to a search, but every search starts with a stop. A search may be consensual if the officer asks and receives permission from the individual. But an officer may also conduct a search without the consent of the individual if they have a search warrant from a judge, if they have just arrested the individual, when there is fear of imminent danger to the officer or someone nearby (for example, searching a person for weapons), or if contraband is visible in open view. Search data is collected by the San Francisco Police Department. The Police Department Stop Data on the San Francisco Open Data Portal is the source for this information.
• A Booking is defined as “the recordation of an arrest in official police records, and the taking by police of fingerprints and photographs of the person arrested.” This definition comes from Section 7.21 of the California Penal Code. In other words, when an individual is arrested and taken to the county jail to have their personal information (and information about the crime they are charged with) are documented. Booking occurs at San Francico Intake and Release Center. Booking data is collected by the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff Jail Bookings by Ethnicity, Gender, and Age on the San Francisco Open Data Portal is the source for this information.
   

Relationship between Stops and Bookings

• It is not possible to use these dashboards to compare stops/searches/contraband discoveries with bookings. This is due to stop and booking data come from different sources, meaning there is no way to determine whether any individual stop leads to a specific booking. Additionally, a small percentage of arrests that result from a stop do not lead to a booking, because the individual is released.
   

Demographics

• The dashboard presents information broken down by each individual’s Race or Ethnicity, Gender Identity, or Age Group. Demographics for Stop and Search data comes from the police officer’s own perception: individuals are not asked for how they self-identify.
• The demographic groups presented in the dashboard are different for the Stops, Searches, and Contraband Discoveries from the Sheriff Booking Dashboard. This is because the RIPA mandated Stops Data has different categories for demographics than the Sheriff Bookings Data.
• RIPA Stops Data:
  • In the Stops Data, Race or Ethnicity includes “Asian”, “Black or African American,” “Hispanic or Latino,” “Middle Eastern/South Asian”, “Native American”, “Pacific Islander”, “White”, “Multi-racial”, and “Other/Unknown”. If an officer perceives the person to be any two or more of these answers, they are documented in the data as “Multi-racial”.
  • In the Stops Data, Gender Identity includes “Female”, “Male”, “Transgender Female”, “Transgender Male”, “Gender nonconforming”, and “Other/Unknown”.
  • In the Stops Data, Age Groups include “Under 18”, “18 to 29”, “30 to 39”, “40 to 49”, “50 to 59”, “Over 60”, and “Other/Unknown”.
• Sheriff Bookings Data:
  • In the Sheriff Booking Data, Race or Ethnicity includes “Asian/Pacific Islander”, “Black”, “Hispanic”, “White”, “Collapsed”, and “Other/Unknown”. “Collapsed” is used when the number of monthly bookings for any race/ethnicity is 20 or less, in order to reduce the risk of re-identification and protect the privacy of individuals booked into jail.
  • In the Sheriff Booking Data, Gender Identity includes “Male”, “Female”, “Other/Unknown”.
  • In the Sheriff Booking Data, Age Group includes “18 to 29”, “30 to 39”, “40 to 49”, “50 to 59”, “Over 60”, and “Other/Unknown”.

The following section provides relevant definitions, data sources, and data usage notes about the “Reasons and Results of Stops and Searches” dashboard. Data is presented in this dashboard from July 1, 2018 onwards.
 

Stops, Searches, and Bookings

• A Stop is defined as “any detention by a peace officer of a person.” This definition comes from Section 999.224 of the California Code of Regulations. In other words, when an individual is stopped by law enforcement and is not free to go without the officer’s permission. Stops include both pedestrian stops and traffic stops. Stop data is collected by the San Francisco Police Department. The Police Department Stop Data on the San Francisco Open Data Portal is the source for this information.
• A Search is defined as “a search of a person's body or property in the person's possession or under his or her control.” This definition comes from Section 999.224 of the California Code of Regulations. In other words, a search may occur when a police officer searches what a person may be carrying, holding, or wearing, as well as anything in the person’s car if they were driving when stopped. A stop may not necessarily lead to a search, but every search starts with a stop. A search may be consensual if the officer asks and receives permission from the individual. The Police Department Stop Data on the San Francisco Open Data Portal is the source for this information.
   

Demographics

• The dashboard presents information broken down by each individual’s Race or Ethnicity, Gender Identity, or Age Group. Demographics for Stop and Search data comes from the police officer’s own perception: individuals are not asked for how they self-identify.
• Demographic Categories include:
  • In the Stops Data, Race or Ethnicity includes “Asian”, “Black or African American,” “Hispanic or Latino,” “Middle Eastern/South Asian”, “Native American”, “Pacific Islander”, “White”, “Multi-racial”, and “Other/Unknown”. If an officer perceives the person to be any two or more of these answers, they are documented in the data as “Multi-racial”.
  • In the Stops Data, Gender Identity includes “Female”, “Male”, “Transgender Female”, “Transgender Male”, “Gender nonconforming”, and “Other/Unknown”.
  • In the Stops Data, Age Group includes “Under 18”, “18 to 29”, “30 to 39”, “40 to 49”, “50 to 59”, “Over 60”, and “Other/Unknown”.
     

Reasons and Results

• The full list of reasons or results of a Stop and a Search can be found in Section 999.224 of the California Code of Regulations.
• An individual may be Stopped or Searched for multiple reasons, which are all documented in the dataset. An individual may be Stopped or Searched and lead to multiple results, which are all documented in the dataset. For this reason, be cautious when trying to add up percentages as multiple reasons or results means the denominator may be larger than the number of stops or searches.
• Reasons for Stop include "Consensual encounter resulting in search," “Determine if student violated school policy,” "Investigation to determine if person was truant," "Knowledge of outstanding arrest warrant/wanted person," "Known to be on parole/probation/PRCS/mandatory supervision," "Reasonable suspicion that this person was engaged in criminal activity," "Traffic violation," and "Unknown."
• Results of Stop include "Citation for infraction," “Contacted parent/legal guardian or other person responsible for the minor,” “Contacted U.S. Department of Homeland Security (e.g., ICE or CBP,” "Custodial arrest pursuant to outstanding warrant," "Custodial arrest without warrant," "Field interview card completed," "In-field cite and release," "Noncriminal or caretaking transport (including transport by officer, ambulance or other agency)," "Psychiatric hold (W&I Code 5150 or 5585.20)," “Referral to school administrator,” “Referral to school counselor or other support staff,” "Warning (verbal or written)," "None," and "Unknown."
• Reasons for Search include "Canine detection," "Condition of parole/probation/PRCS/mandatory supervision," "Consent given," "Evidence of crime," "Exigent circumstances/emergency," "Incident to arrest," "Odor of contraband," "Officer safety/safety of others," "Search warrant," “Suspected violation of school policy,” "Suspected weapons," "Vehicle inventory," "Visible contraband," and “Unknown.”
• Results of Search include "Alcohol," "Ammunition," "Cell phone(s) or electronic device(s)," "Drug paraphernalia," "Drugs/narcotics," "Firearm(s)," "Money," "Other contraband or evidence," "Suspected stolen property," "Weapon(s) other than a firearm," and "None."

Note: When an officer detains or searches an individual, the officer must document the reason for doing so, and the result of the stop. Some exceptions to documenting stops are authorized and noted in the RIPA Regulation. Law enforcement must also document the reason an individual was searched, and the results of the search. 

The following section provides relevant definitions, data sources, and data usage notes about the “Officer Initiated vs Public Call for Service” dashboard. Data is presented in this dashboard from January 1, 2018 onwards.

Stops, Searches, and Contraband Discoveries

• A Stop is defined as “any detention by a peace officer of a person.” This definition comes from Section 999.224 of the California Code of Regulations. In other words, when an individual is stopped by law enforcement and is not free to go without the officer’s permission. Stops include both pedestrian stops and traffic stops. Stop data is collected by the San Francisco Police Department. The Police Department Stop Data on the San Francisco Open Data Portal is the source for this information.
• A Search is defined as “a search of a person's body or property in the person's possession or under his or her control.” This definition comes from Section 999.224 of the California Code of Regulations. In other words a search may occur when a police officer searches what a person may be carrying, holding, or wearing, as well as anything in the person’s car if they were driving when stopped. A stop may not necessarily lead to a search, but every search starts with a stop. A search may be consensual if the officer asks and receives permission from the individual. The Police Department Stop Data on the San Francisco Open Data Portal is the source for this information.

Demographics

• The dashboard presents information broken down by each individual’s Race or Ethnicity, Gender Identity, or Age Group. Demographics for Stop and Search data comes from the police officer’s own perception: individuals are not asked for how they self-identify.
• Demographic Categories include:
  • In the Stops Data, Race or Ethnicity includes “Asian”, “Black or African American,” “Hispanic or Latino,” “Middle Eastern/South Asian”, “Native American”, “Pacific Islander”, “White”, “Multi-racial”, and “Other/Unknown”. If an officer perceives the person to be any two or more of these answers, they are documented in the data as “Multi-racial”.
  • In the Stops Data, Gender Identity includes “Female”, “Male”, “Transgender Female”, “Transgender Male”, “Gender nonconforming”, and “Other/Unknown”.
  • In the Stops Data, Age Group includes “Under 18”, “18 to 29”, “30 to 39”, “40 to 49”, “50 to 59”, “Over 60”, and “Other/Unknown”.

The following section provides relevant definitions, data sources, and data usage notes about the “Population and Stops” dashboard. Police Stops Data presented in this dashboard from January 1, 2018 onwards. The population estimate is from the latest available American Community Survey (ACS) ranging from 2017 to 2022.

Stops

• A Stop is defined as “any detention by a peace officer of a person.” This definition comes from Section 999.224 of the California Code of Regulations. In other words, when an individual is stopped by law enforcement and is not free to go without the officer’s permission. Stops include both pedestrian stops and traffic stops. Stop data is collected by the San Francisco Police Department. The Police Department Stop Data on the San Francisco Open Data Portal is the source for this information.

Demographics

• The dashboard presents information broken down by each individual’s Race or Ethnicity, Gender Identity, or Age Group. Demographics for Stop and Search data comes from the police officer’s own perception: individuals are not asked for how they self-identify.
• Demographic Categories include:
  • In the Stops Data, Race or Ethnicity includes “Asian”, “Black or African American,” “Hispanic or Latino,” “Middle Eastern/South Asian”, “Native American”, “Pacific Islander”, “White”, “Multi-racial”, and “Other/Unknown”. If an officer perceives the person to be any two or more of these answers, they are documented in the data as “Multi-racial”.
  • In the Stops Data, Gender Identity includes “Female”, “Male”, “Transgender Female”, “Transgender Male”, “Gender nonconforming”, and “Other/Unknown”.
  • In the Stops Data, Age Group includes “Under 18”, “18 to 29”, “30 to 39”, “40 to 49”, “50 to 59”, “Over 60”, and “Other/Unknown”.

Disclaimer:

• San Francisco’s population data comes from the American Community Survey’s 5-year estimate. The latest 5 year survey data available is for 2017 – 2022. This means the date ranges for the survey data and the Police Stops Data do not overlap perfectly and there is a 1 year difference in both the beginning of the date ranges and end of the date ranges (i.e. Police Stops Data ranges from 2018 to 2023, while the ACS data ranges from 2017 to 2022.) The population dataset will be updated in December annually when the newest 5 year survey data becomes available.
• This ACS dataset contains different demographic categories than the Police Stops Data. Due to this limitation, demographic fields from the ACS data were transformed to the closest match in the Police Stops Data. These transformations include:
  • “American Indian and Alaska Native alone” was transformed to “Native American”.
  • “Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, Not Hispanic or Latino” was transformed to “Pacific Islander.”
  • “Some other race alone, Not Hispanic or Latino,” was transformed to “Other/Unknown.”
  • “Two or more races: Not Hispanic or Latino,” was transformed to “Multi-racial.”
• There are additional limitations with the ACS data. These include:
  • The ACS data does not have a “Middle Eastern” category and is instead included in the “White alone, not Hispanic/Latino.” Therefore, we are unable to show the percentage of this demographic group within San Francisco’s population.
  • Gender only includes “Female” and “Male” and does not include “Transgender Female,” “Transgender Male,” and “Gender Nonconforming.”

Note: For further reading, a deeper analysis of the challenges around per capita population benchmarking is discussed in the 2019 paper “Methodological Challenges and Opportunities in Testing for Racial Discrimination in Policing” by Roland Niel and Christopher Winship.