2020 RBDC Findings Frequently Asked Questions
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Frequently Asked Questions
Overview
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What is the purpose behind this work? Why is Toronto Police collecting this data?
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Why is this work important?
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Why did the Service look at the enforcement action population as a comparison for use-of-force and the arrest population as a comparison for strip searches, instead of the general population?
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What are some important facts we should know?
RBDC Analysis Framework
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What is Systemic Racism?
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Are there legal requirements for TPS to collect, analyze and report race-based data?
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Why is TPS collecting officer perception of a person’s race?
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How can you be sure that the data is entered properly and accurately?
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What if the officer’s perceived race is different from how someone self-identifies?
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What is a racial disparity? What is a disproportionality?
Engaging Communities and Members of the Service
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Have communities been a part of the process?
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How have Indigenous members of communities been engaged?
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Will communities continue to be engaged and involved in the Strategy?
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How were front line officers engaged in the process?
Analyzing and Reporting Data
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Who analyzed the data?
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What were the major considerations when analyzing the data?
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How is the analysis an accurate reflection of policing since the majority of police interactions are reactive and driven by 911 calls for service?
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Are recent operational changes reflected in the analysis (e.g. changes to Strip Search procedures in 2020)?
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Are you comparing outcomes to the resident population or will you take into account who police interact with in order to understand differences by race?
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What was done to address the data limitations in the first phase of this strategy?
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How do the findings of this report compare to other police services in Ontario? Is everyone doing the same analysis?
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Will the Service report all findings, not just negative ones but also results that show areas where we may be doing well?
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Will this analysis be continued for years to come?
Use of Force
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Why is firearm pointed considered as serious as firearm discharged?
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When is an officer required to submit a Use of Force Report?
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For this analysis, what types of force were analyzed and how were they categorized?
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What is a Use of Force Report?
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What are the main findings of the Phase 1 of data analysis on use-of-force?
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By how many times were Black, East/Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern and Latino people were overrepresented in reported use-of-force incidents compared to their presence in enforcement action?
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Among those who experienced a use-of-force in 2020, which race experienced the highest types of force?
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How often are police officers in Toronto using force against people?
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Which calls for service were most often associated with a use-of-force?
Strip Searches
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How many people were strip searched in 2020?
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What are the different types / levels of searches?
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What are the main findings of the 2020 data analysis on strip searches?
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What changes took place to strip search policy and procedures?
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How much did strip search rates drop following changes in policy and procedures?
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How much were disparities reduced as a result of the update to the Search of Person Procedure?
What's Next?
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What solutions will the TPS be putting forward to improve upon these findings?
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How will the public know what changes are being made and if they are working?
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What are the “other interactions” that will be included in Phase 2?
Protecting Privacy and Data Access
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How is TPS protecting personal privacy and confidentiality of individuals about whom the data is collected?
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Is TPS using race and identity-based data to identify individual officers?
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How is TPS analyzing the data it collects under this Strategy?
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Who has oversight over the data and how it will be protected and used?
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Will the public have access to race and identity-based data?