An Investigation of the Relationship Between Crime Rate and Police Compensation

TL;DR

This study investigates the correlation between police salaries and crime rates in Baltimore from 2011 to 2021, finding a negative relationship that suggests higher police compensation may be associated with lower crime levels.

Contribution

It provides an empirical analysis of the relationship between police compensation and crime rates using public data and social theories, offering policy insights.

Findings

Negative correlation between police salaries and crime rates

Higher police compensation linked to lower crime levels

Data-driven recommendations for policy based on social theories

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to assess whether there is any correlation between police salaries and crime rates. Using public data sources that contain Baltimore Crime Rates and Baltimore Police Department (BPD) salary information from 2011 to 2021, our research uses a variety of techniques to capture and measure any correlation between the two. Based on that correlation, the paper then uses established social theories to make recommendations on how this data can potentially be used by State Leadership. Our initial results show a negative correlation between salary/compensation levels and crime rates.