BPD FIO data: a visual exploration

November 1, 2019

Overview

Using BPD’s Field Interrogation and Observation data as an example, I’ll demonstrate how we use visualization to explore a dataset.

This presentation is intended to show how we work.

It is not an analysis.

Field Interrogation and Observation (FIO) Program

Contact between BPD and one or more individuals.

“The FIO program in Boston is not a traditional stop and frisk program. FIO’s are used to document not only when an individual is stopped and frisked, but also to document when an officer engages in a consensual encounter with an individual, and when an officer observes an individual, and needs to document that observation for intelligence purposes.”

-BPDnews.com, 8 Oct 2014

https://bpdnews.com/news/2014/10/8/boston-police-commissioner-announces-field-interrogation-and-observation-fio-study-results?rq=fio%20dATA

Jan-Dec 2016 Data

FieldContactEach contact between BPD and one or more individuals (9,048 entries)

• Age• Sex• Race• Ethnicity

• Complexion• Build• Hair Style• Clothing

• Date• Duration• Address • Officer

• Summons Issued• Circumstances• Basis• Contact Reason

FieldContact_NameEach individual involved in these contacts (14,994 entries)

sample fields

Field contact locations