University of Saskatchewan researchers study impact, effectiveness of police street checks

A research team at the University of Saskatchewan is launching an ambitious review of how police on the Prairies do street checks.

That's the practice of police stopping people to gather information, but not arrest them. It's also known as "carding" or contact interviews.

The five-year, $400,000 study will look at carding data from 34 municipal forces in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It will also involve interviewing people in the community.

"Part of this research is going across the Prairies and seeing what the practices are, and where the community feels that there are best practices or more harmful practices," said Scott Thompson, lead investigator for the review, and an assistant professor of sociology at the university.

"We are analyzing what is actually done in street checks, and if there's any good to be had here."

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The practice has faced criticism because of concerns that marginalized and First Nations people are groups over-represented in the checks.

In 2018, the Saskatchewan Police Commission (SPC) released guidelines for carding. The individual police services developed their policies from the guidelines.

Thompson said one of the concerns is that Saskatoon police do not oblige officers to tell people that they do not need to speak with police. The SPC guidelines make it clear the interaction is voluntary.

"Citizens have no obligation to answer questions or provide identification during contact interviews and are free to leave at any time," the guidelines say.

Thompson says it might not be realistic for people to know this.

"Does someone like a minor or does someone that may be homeless, do they have the same understanding or do they have the same freedom to reject or not participate in data collection that they feel is unjust?" he said.

"They [Saskatoon police] made a specific decision not to have that discussion about rights, not telling the individual when they're being stopped what their legal protections are."

Saskatoon police Chief Troy Cooper says that at this point, beginning a discussion with a person by saying that they don't have to speak may not be the most practical approach.

Rather, Cooper says, these concerns can be resolved by officers approaching respectfully and not infringing on a person's rights.

"I do understand that concern. And, of course, it's really important that we provide officers appropriate levels of training so that these interactions are done in a way that's respectful and that leaves the community members with an understanding of why it occurred and so that we can maintain public confidence there," he said in an interview.

Cooper says the service could change that aspect of the policy "if we could show the value in it."

Study wide in scope

Thompson said the study will draw from a variety of disciplines.

Professor Glen Luther and associate professor Sarah Buhler from the College of Law will analyze carding data from 34 municipal forces for the legality of the interactions.

Assistant sociology professor Julie Kaye will work with youth to get their perspective and experience on street checks.

Two computer science professors, Kevin Schneider and Zadia Codabux, will help with gathering and making sense of the data, which could amount to thousands of reports.

"The research results of the usefulness of carding, and how these checks are experienced by citizens, will be shared with police leaders and boards, municipal leaders, and the community to forge a better way forward," Thompson said.

The study's funding is coming largely from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. 

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