Offering a unifying theoretical perspective not readily available in any other text, this innovative guide to econometrics uses simple geometrical arguments to develop students' intuitive understanding of basic and advanced topics, emphasizing throughout the practical applications of modern theory and nonlinear techniques of estimation. One theme of the text is the use of artificial regressions for estimation, reference, and specification testing of nonlinear models, including diagnostic tests for parameter constancy, serial correlation, heteroscedasticity, and other types of mis-specification. Explaining how estimates can be obtained and tests can be carried out, the authors go beyond a mere algebraic description to one that can be easily translated into the commands of a standard econometric software package. Covering an unprecedented range of problems with a consistent emphasis on those that arise in applied work, this accessible and coherent guide to the most vital topics in econometrics today is indispensable for advanced students of econometrics and students of statistics interested in regression and related topics. It will also suit practising econometricians who want to update their skills. Flexibly designed to accommodate a variety of course levels, it offers both complete coverage of the basic material and separate chapters on areas of specialized interest.

Estimation and Inference in Econometrics

Embrick and his colleagues (p. 250) also realize this problem exists: ‘‘Yet, our sociological understanding of people and virtual technologies often lag far behind. Part of the reason is because we are just beginning to develop the methodological and theoretical tools needed to engage as researchers in this still new terrain.’’ Despite these organizational issues, the editors did a great job in assembling a colorful mixture of innovative research and very interesting, well-written articles. Highlights are the semiotic analysis of Elizabeth Erkenbrack (pp. 38ff.) in ‘‘Discursive Engagements in World of Warcraft,’’ in which the author explores ‘‘interactive realities, the multiple orientations of players, and the inter-frame effects’’ of the game ‘‘World of Warcraft,’’ as well as the chapter of J. Talmadge Wright (pp. 81ff.) on the production of place and play in virtual spaces, in which he makes the novel argument that the new technology of representation ‘‘amplifies already existing social relationships.’’ In conclusion, Embrick, Wright, and Lukács’s book is a very innovative collection of essays on virtual culture and online games. They succeed in filling the sociological research gap by issuing broader questions on power, exclusion, and inequalities in a digital and mediatized society. The chapters and authors present the state of the art in this research field. The topics are carefully selected, the chapters are well written, and readers especially benefit from the concise introduction and conclusion.

Pulled Over: How Police Stops Define Race and Citizenship:

Tradicionalni model policiranja oslanjao se na paramilitarizam za koji je bio karakteristican autoritet zasnovan na rangu, komandovanje i kontrola. Organizaciona struktura je bila hijerarhijska i nefleksibilna, sto je otežavalo prilagođavanje izazovima iz okruženja koje se brzo menja. U ovom modelu policiranje je bilo pretežno reaktivno i nesposobno da razvije i održi bliske radne odnose sa zajednicom u kontroli kriminaliteta. Tranzicija ka policiji u zajednici je bila osveženje i za policiju i za zajednicu u smislu demokratije i efektivnosti, buduci da policija nije vise imala monopol da određuje sta je najbolje za ostatak zajednice i nije vise oslonjena na cistu primenu propisa i hapsenje kao primarna oruđa. Koncept policije u zajednici je bio bitno senzibilniji, posto je koncentrisan na prevenciju kriminaliteta kroz saradnju. Ova tranzicija ka policiji u zajednici nije bila laka za vecinu policijskih snaga/servisa posto je preovlađujuca subkultura policije pokazivala jasnu preferenciju ka orijentaciji usmerenoj na akciju i manjak interesa za "meko" policiranje sa kojim se model policije u zajednici identifikuje. Cak i za one snage/servise koje su uspesno izvele tranziciju verovatno je da tenzija u okviru subkulture jos uvek postoji i da bi akcije ili sugestije za povratak na tradicionalni paramilitarni stil naisle na znacajnu podrsku unutar operativnog policijskog sastava. se pravi otklon od policije u zajednici kao dominantne filozofije. Jasno je da treba da dođe do pomeranja akcenta ka modelu policiranja, koji se fokusira na nacionalnu bezbednost. Međutim, pretpostavka da je paramilitarni model za ovo najprikladniji, predstavlja veoma pograsnu procenu. Vracanje na tradicionalni model policiranja ce ponistiti decenije velikog rada, kojim je model policije u zajednici postavljen kao primer javne službe u civilnom i demokratskom drustvu. Koriscenje principa policije u zajednici je mnogo osetljiviji i efektivniji nacin u borbi protiv terorizma. Opste je prihvaceno da se policija ne može sama boriti protiv opsteg kriminala i da se mora osloniti na zajednicu. Isti princip se primenjuje i na suprotstavljanje terorizmu. Mnogo je verovatnije da ce odnosi policije i zajednice koji su izgrađeni na poverenju i uzajamnom postovanju rezultirati ranim upozorenjima u vezi teroristickih akata. Umesto udaljavanja policije od koncepta policije u zajednici ovaj koncept bi trebalo ojacati osobito u svetlu subkulturnih crta operativnih policijskih snaga, koje ukazuju na preferencije usmerene ka akciji. Posvecenost policijskih komesara/sefova tokom godina da bi se ostvarila neophodna tranzicija i postigla ova kulturna promena se ne sme zaboraviti. Stavise, dok prekomponuju svoje policijske strategije da bi se suprotstavili teroristickoj pretnji, oni moraju biti upozoreni na to da je verovatno da ce policijski operativci možda preferirati skretanje ka stilu policiranja koji je okrenut akciji, karakteristicnim za paramilitarizam. U svojoj žurbi da ponovo dobiju poverenje javnosti i politicari ce možda takođe preferirati ovaj model. Ono cemu se mora suprotstaviti je iskusenje da se vrati na metode policiranja koji ignorisu osnovne i eticki zasnovane principe policije u zajednici.

Policing terrorism: A threat to community policing or just a shift in priorities?

Law enforcement agencies have rapidly adopted BWCs in the last decade with the hope that they might improve police conduct, accountability, and transparency, especially regarding use of force. Overall, there remains substantial uncertainty about whether BWCs can reduce officer use of force, but the variation in effects suggests there may be conditions in which BWC could be effective. BWCs also do not seem to affect other police and citizen behaviors in a consistent manner, including officers’ self‐initiated activities or arrest behaviors, dispatched calls for service, or assaults and resistance against police officers. BWCs can reduce the number of citizen complaints against police officers, but it is unclear whether this finding signals an improvement in the quality of police–citizen interactions or a change in reporting. Research has not directly addressed whether BWCs can strengthen police accountability systems or police–citizen relationships.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cl2.1043

Body‐worn cameras’ effects on police officers and citizen behavior: A systematic review

Contentious debate is currently taking place regarding the extent to which public scrutiny of the police post-Ferguson has led to depolicing or to a decrease in proactive police work. Advocates of the “Ferguson effect” claim the decline in proactive policing increased violent crime and assaults on the police. Although police body-worn cameras (BWCs) are touted as a police reform that can generate numerous benefits, they also represent a form of internal and public surveillance on the police. The surveillance aspect of BWCs suggests that BWCs may generate depolicing through camera-induced passivity. We test this question with data from a randomized controlled trial of BWCs in Spokane (WA) by assessing the impact of BWCs on four measures: officer-initiated calls, arrests, response time, and time on scene. We employ hierarchical linear and cross-classified models to test for betweenand within-group differences in outcomes before and after the randomized BWC rollout. Our results demonstrate no evidence of statistically significant camera-induced passivity across any of the four outcomes. In fact, self-initiated calls increased for officers assigned to treatment during the RCT. We discuss the theoretical and policy implications of the findings for the ongoing dialogue in policing.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1745-9125.12179

Body‐worn cameras as a potential source of depolicing: testing for camera‐induced passivity

The protests following the killing of George Floyd in the summer of 2020 led to contentious discussions and debates in many cities about policing, with some calling to “defund the police.” However,...

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/10986111211035002

Can We Really Defund the Police? A Nine-Agency Study of Police Response to Calls for Service:

To measure where officers engage in proactive, self-initiated activities, how much time they spend being proactive, and whether their proactive activities coincide with crime patterns. This study uses Andresen’s Spatial Point Pattern Test to compare the spatial similarity between police proactivity and crime, as well as regression modeling to explore the relationship between proactivity and crime and the time spent on proactivity and crime. In the jurisdiction examined, high levels of proactivity are noted. This proactive activity is more likely to occur in places where crime is most concentrated. Additionally, the number of proactive calls and the proactive time spent per crime-and-disorder call remain high and stable across spatial scales. For each crime call received at a street block, police initiated 0.7 proactive activities and spent approximately 28 min carrying out proactive works. This study develops a way of measuring proactive activity by patrol officers using calls for service data. We find that not only do officers in this jurisdiction exhibit higher levels of proactivity to prevent crime (compared to reacting to crime), but they also do so in targeted, micro-place ways. Agencies may consider using similar techniques to gauge the levels of proactivity in their agencies if proactive activity is a goal.

Measuring the Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Police Proactivity

The 2017 National Academies of Sciences (NAS) Committee and Report on Proactive Policing highlighted what we know about the effects of proactive policing practices on crime prevention and police–co...

Examining the Empirical Realities of Proactive Policing Through Systematic Observations and Computer-Aided Dispatch Data:

To measure the practice and management of proactive policing in local American police agencies and assess them in comparison to recommendations of the National Academies of Sciences (NAS) Committee on Proactive Policing.,A survey was conducted with a national sample of American police agencies having 100 or more sworn officers to obtain detailed information about the types of proactive work that officers engage in, to quantify their proactive work and to understand how the agencies measure and manage those activities. Responding agencies (n = 180) were geographically diverse and served populations of approximately half a million persons on average.,Proactivity as practiced is much more limited in scope than what the NAS envisions. Most agencies track only a few forms of proactivity and cannot readily estimate how much uncommitted time officers have available for proactive work. Measured proactivity is mostly limited to traffic stops, business and property checks and some form of directed or general preventive patrol. Many agencies have no formal policy in place to define or guide proactive activities, nor do they evaluate officer performance on proactivity with a detailed and deliberate rubric.,This is the first national survey that attempts to quantify proactive policing as practiced broadly in the United States. It provides context to the NAS recommendations and provides knowledge about the gap between practice and those recommendations.

Proactive policing in the United States: a national survey

Empirical research suggests that traffic enforcement is the most common type of proactive activity police officers engage in on a daily basis. Further, agencies often use traffic enforcement to achieve both traffic safety and crime control. Given these goals, the purpose of this paper is to investigate whether (and to what extent) officers are accurately targeting their proactive traffic enforcement with crime and vehicle crashes in two agencies.,The study examines traffic enforcement patterns in two agencies to see whether proactive traffic enforcement aligns spatially with crime and vehicle crashes. This study employs negative binomial regression models with clustered standard errors to investigate this alignment at the micro-spatial level. Key variables of interest are measured with police calls for service data, traffic citation data and vehicle crash data from two law enforcement jurisdictions.,High levels of spatial association are observed between traffic accidents and crime in both agencies, lending empirical support to the underlying theories of traffic enforcement programs that also try to reduce crime (i.e. “DDACTS”). In both agencies, traffic accidents also appear to be the most prominent predictor of police proactive traffic enforcement activities, even across different times of day. However, when vehicle crashes are accounted for, the association between crime and traffic stops is weaker, even during times of day when agencies believe they are using proactive traffic enforcement as a crime deterrent.,No prior study to authors knowledge has examined the empirical association between police proactive traffic activities and crime and traffic accidents in practice. The current study seeks to fill that void by investigating the realities of traffic stops as practiced daily by police officers, and their alignment with crime and vehicle crashes. Such empirical inquiry is especially important given the prevalent use of traffic enforcement as a common proactive policing tool by police agencies to control both traffic and crime problems.

Xiaoyun Wu

Papers

Can We Really Defund the Police? A Nine-Agency Study of Police Response to Calls for Service:

Measuring the Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Police Proactivity

Examining the Empirical Realities of Proactive Policing Through Systematic Observations and Computer-Aided Dispatch Data:

Proactive policing in the United States: a national survey

The practice of proactive traffic stops