STEPHENVILLE, Texas — The Institute for Predictive Analytics in Criminal Justice (IPAC) at Tarleton State University has published its annual report on racial profiling data in Texas.
Each year, IPAC analyzes the statewide racial profiling data and publishes findings. As with previous years, there are discernible patterns in the data.
IPAC also continues to use relative risk and typologies to generates easy-to-understand context for each of the variables analyzed. The typologies section translates statewide data into information similar to that reported by Texas law enforcement agencies. This makes comparing existing agency data against typical data much easier.
“The analysis of the state’s racial profiling data found in this report corroborates previous findings and provides an in-depth examinations of consent searches — a procedure especially susceptible to unintentional misuse,” said Tarleton State Professor and Director of IPAC Dr. Alex del Carmen, who was named a Texas A&M System Regents Professor this past November. “In line with the institute’s mission, we offer actionable recommendations for policymakers to refine policing procedures and mitigate racial profiling.”
Among the significant findings in this year’s research:
— Consent Search Findings. Blacks were 1.08 times more likely than Whites to be subjected to consent search. Hispanics were 1.23 times more likely than Whites to be subjected to consent search. Among police agencies with a minimum of 20 consent searches of Blacks, 64% reported higher consent search rates relative to Whites. Among police agencies with a minimum of 20 consent searches of Hispanics, 70% reported higher consent search rates relative to Whites. Also noteworthy, statewide there were about 10,000 more consent searches conducted in 2024 compared to the year prior, and approximately 9,000 of those increased consent searches were conducted on Hispanics.
— Contraband Hit Rate Findings. Consistent with the pattern noted in previous years, relative to Whites, police are more likely to search Hispanics but less likely to discover contraband.
— Relative Risk of Citation. Relative to Whites, Blacks were 1.11 times more likely to receive a citation, and Hispanics 1.29 times more likely.
These findings follow similar patterns noted in previous years of racial profiling analysis conducted by IPAC.
As with previous research findings, IPAC recommends improved transparency in racial profiling data, particularly with greater disclosure around consent searches. The institute recommends that agencies disclose consent search denials, as consent searches are especially vulnerable to racial profiling. IPAC also recommends, as it has done previously, that contraband discoveries be disaggregated by search type to fully evaluate the effectiveness of consent searches.
The full report is available at www.tarleton.edu/ipac/.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of more than 21,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For over 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.