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. 2022;32(1):56-67.
doi: 10.1080/09581596.2021.1987387. Epub 2021 Nov 10.

Policing the pandemic: Estimating spatial and racialized inequities in New York City police enforcement of COVID-19 mandates

Sandhya Kajeepeta  1 , Emilie Bruzelius  1 , Jessica Z Ho  2 , Seth J Prins  1
Affiliations

Policing the pandemic: Estimating spatial and racialized inequities in New York City police enforcement of COVID-19 mandates

Sandhya Kajeepeta et al. Crit Public Health. 2022.

Abstract

The use of policing to enforce public health guidelines has historically produced harmful consequences, and early evidence from the police enforcement of COVID-19 mandates suggested Black New Yorkers were disproportionately represented in arrests. The over-policing of Black and low-income neighborhoods during a pandemic risks increased transmission, potentially exacerbating existing health inequities. To assess racialized and class-based inequities in the enforcement of COVID-19 mandates at the ZIP-code-level, we conducted a retrospective spatial analysis of demographic factors and public health policing in New York City from March 12-May 24, 2020. Policing outcomes (COVID-19 criminal court summonses and public health and nuisance arrests) were measured using publicly available police administrative data. After controlling for two measures of social distancing compliance, a standard deviation increase in percentage of Black residents was associated with a 73% increase (95% CI: 35%, 123%) in the COVID-19-specific summons rate and a 34% increase (95% CI: 17%, 53%) in the public health and nuisance arrest rate. Percentage of Black residents and historical stop-and-frisk rates had stronger associations with COVID-19 summons rates than multiple measures of social distancing compliance. Findings demonstrate pronounced spatial and racialized inequities in pandemic policing of public health that mimic historical policing practices deemed racially discriminatory. If the field of public health supports criminalization and punishment as public health strategies, it risks reinscribing racialized health inequities.

Keywords: COVID-19; coronavirus; law enforcement; police; race/ethnicity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Map of ZIP-code-level public health and nuisance arrest rate in New York City (March 12-May 24, 2020) Quintiles: [2.61, 9.51]; (9.51, 19.3]; (19.3, 27.4]; (27.4, 43.2]; (43.2, 179] per 100,000
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Maps of ZIP-code-level variables and corresponding plots with quasi-Poisson model-predicted values of associations with public health and nuisance arrest rate in New York City (March 12-May 24, 2020) Quintiles: Percentage of Black residents: [0.4, 2.6]; (2.6, 6.2]; (6.2, 16.2]; (16.2, 40.0]; (40.0, 92.7]; Percentage of residents below the federal poverty line: [2.1, 7.7]; (7.7, 11.1]; (11.1, 14.5]; (14.5, 21.5]; (21.5, 40.6]; Weighted median non-home dwell time: [3.4, 8.3]; (8.3, 11.2]; (11.2, 13.7]; (13.7, 30.4]; (30.4, 175.1]; Rate of social distancing 311 complaints per 100,000: [112.2, 296.8]; (296.8, 435.4]; (435.4, 551.5]; (551.5, 700.7]; (700.7, 3247.6]; 2011 rate of stop-and-frisk incidents per 100,000: [51.5, 2394.0]; (2394.0, 4695.3]; (4695.3, 7524.7]; (7524.7, 12074.6]; (12074.6, 27695.9]
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