In a move towards greater transparency and accountability, the Community Justice Center (CJC) has unveiled a new data dashboard to provide the public with access to crucial information regarding public safety agencies and the criminal justice system. The dashboard was developed as part of the Reimagining Public Safety initiative and serves as a tool to examine outcomes and potential disparities within law enforcement interactions, particularly concerning communities of color.
Monalita Smiley, Executive Director at the Community Justice Center, explained the process behind creating the dashboard and its significance in fostering transparency. Smiley emphasized that the dashboard is a product of collaborative efforts involving stakeholders such as the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department, the Ithaca Police Department, the Department of Emergency Response, probation, assigned counsel, and project management teams from both city and county representatives.
“The dashboard was created to address concerns raised by the community regarding disproportionate outcomes in policing and the criminal justice system,” stated Smiley. “It serves as a means to provide transparency and access to data, allowing the community to examine various data points and potentially identify areas for improvement.”
The dashboard compiles information from dispatch calls for service, arrests, and other relevant data points, which can be filtered based on demographic categories. Despite being recently launched, Smiley noted that they have yet to conduct an in-depth data analysis to identify trends or disparities. However, she highlighted that the CJC had plans to regularly update the dashboard and create community feedback mechanisms.
“We encourage community members to explore the dashboard and provide feedback,” said Smiley. “It’s an ongoing process, and we value community input in shaping the direction of our initiatives.”
According to the dashboard data, most calls for service to local law enforcement are for non-emergency situations. In 2023, emergency calls accounted for roughly 27% of total calls, while non-emergency calls accounted for 73%.
The dashboard also provides information about which agencies respond to most service calls. In 2023, local law enforcement agencies responded to 72% of calls, while EMS responded to roughly 17% and Fire Rescue responded to about 10%.
So far this year, the Ithaca Police Department (IPD) has responded to nearly 30% of total service calls, the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department has responded to about 25%, followed by the New York State Police at 17%, Dryden Police at 9%, Groton Police at 7%, Cayuga Heights Police at 6%, and Trumansburg Police at 3%.
Additionally, out of 5,445 IPD interactions with the public so far in 2024, just 252 have escalated to the point of arrest, while 5,193 have been “non-arrest interactions.” While this shows that the majority of interactions with IPD don’t lead to an arrest being made, when arrests are made, the most common reasons are for traffic offenses or trespassing charges.
Arrest data included in the dashboard from the District Attorney’s Office revealed that in 2023, 53% of arrests were for misdemeanors, while roughly 29% were for felonies, and 17% were for violations. If you categorize arrests by race, it’s revealed that white people account for approximately 54% of arrests, Black people account for 23% of arrests, and Hispanic people account for just 4% of arrests.
Even though Black people make up just 4.6% of the population in Tompkins County, according to census data, they account for 23% of arrests. While Smiley has said that no trends or disparities have been identified by the CJC through the dashboard yet, these numbers indicate that Black people in Tompkins County are disproportionately likely to be arrested as a result of an interaction with law enforcement.
Regarding funding, Smiley revealed that a portion of the dashboard budget was used for software updates and upgrades, with an estimated cost of $15,000. However, she emphasized the significant contribution of internal stakeholders in terms of expertise and time, highlighting the collaborative nature of the project.
In addition to providing insights into law enforcement activities, the dashboard also offers a glimpse into initiatives like the Care Team, operating at both city and county levels. While Smiley acknowledged that the Care Team’s implementation is still in its early stages, she mentioned positive feedback from community members regarding their experiences with the service.
“We’re focused on showcasing the success of programs like the Care Team and evaluating their impact,” explained Smiley. “Our partnerships with agencies like the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department allow us to gather valuable data and assess the effectiveness of these initiatives.”
The CJC’s commitment to transparency extends beyond providing access to data. Smiley emphasized the importance of community engagement and feedback in shaping future initiatives and addressing concerns.
“We want the public to know that their feedback is crucial in driving positive change,” said Smiley. “The dashboard serves as a platform for dialogue, and we encourage community members to actively participate in the process.”
As the CJC continues to refine the dashboard and gather feedback, Smiley expressed optimism about its potential to foster greater trust between law enforcement agencies and the community.
“Our ultimate goal is to build a safer and more equitable community,” concluded Smiley. “By promoting transparency and accountability, we hope to strengthen relationships and address systemic issues within the criminal justice system.”
In conclusion, the launch of the CJC data dashboard represents a significant step towards promoting transparency and accountability in public safety initiatives, with the potential to drive positive change within the community.