Data in Policing: An Integrative Review

Abstract

The article brings together contemporary research on how new forms of data are reshaping policing and police organizations. A systematic review of 192 papers (1970–2022) identifies the developing effects of data in areas like automated decision-making and predictive policing. We synthesize the findings in an integrative framework that links data sources, data-driven processes, and policing outcomes while highlighting the significance of institutional, organizational and individual-level moderators. The acceleration of data in policing raises critical questions for public administration scholars. We discuss the implications on the evolving nature of discretion and decision-making, the training of police officers, and tensions between data professionals and street-level officers. We further unpack the implications for organizational transformation and the changing nature of policing strategies.