The irrationalities of rationality in police data processes

This paper explores how police bureaucracies, in their pursuit of greater accountability and management efficiencies, create what are intended to be rational data collection and use processes. However, these processes often produce unintended consequences: namely, behaviours, practices, and policies...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Policing & society 2022-09, Vol.32 (8), p.947-962
Main Authors: Huey, Laura, Ferguson, Lorna, Koziarski, Jacek
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accountability
Bureaucracy
Data collection
data use
Irrationality
McDonaldization
Police
Police administration
Rationality
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Summary:This paper explores how police bureaucracies, in their pursuit of greater accountability and management efficiencies, create what are intended to be rational data collection and use processes. However, these processes often produce unintended consequences: namely, behaviours, practices, and policies that confound an organisation's goals. Drawing on Ritzer's McDonaldization thesis and qualitative data from two Canadian police organisations, we argue that although police bureaucracies focus on maintaining efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control when it comes to their data processes, not only do inaccuracies occur, but they happen because an over-emphasis on rational processes can produce forms of irrationality.
ISSN:1043-9463
1477-2728
DOI:10.1080/10439463.2021.2007245