As concerns about relations between communities and police in the US continue, the use of data for transparency and accountability is entering the conversation. There are potential benefits for both law enforcement leadership and communities, but also challenges in accessing and working with these datasets. We’ll look at what has been accomplished already in the new field of open police data, and discuss ways the data community can get involved.
Laura Paajanen Ellena is a researcher and project manager at Code for America working on criminal background checks and record changes to create a justice system that is safe, fair, and effective. Her 2015 Code for America Fellowship focused on open police data with the city of Indianapolis, IN, in collaboration with the White House Police Data Initiative. Previously, she worked to combine UX and market research to increase customer focus at ModCloth. She received a Masters in Information Management and Systems from UC Berkeley in 2010.