Improving Transparency and Accountability with Stop Data Collection
It has been a decade since California passed the Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA), a groundbreaking policy that reshaped how law enforcement agencies engage with communities, document interactions, and report data. Today, over 550 agencies across the state collect and report stop data to the California Department of Justice (DOJ), reinforcing a broader national call for government transparency and police accountability.
But meeting these new standards hasn’t been easy.
The challenges of collecting stop data
Collecting stop data is essential, but it burdens already stretched law enforcement agencies. Rather than being out in the community, officers spend significant chunks of their shifts filling out detailed reports. For example, the Orange Police Department estimated that its officers spent up to two hours each day on reporting, time that could have been spent patrolling neighborhoods.
Even departments with a process in place often struggle with efficiency. The San Luis Obispo Police Department (SLOPD) found that it took officers between four to five minutes to report on each individual stop. Multiply that across multiple stops and officers per day, and the time adds up quickly.
And the challenges don’t stop there. Once collected, the data must be formatted to meet specific DOJ submission standards. As deadlines approach, this can become a logistical hurdle, particularly for departments that lack technical infrastructure or staff to manage complex data requirements.
A modern, AI-powered solution to data collection
As law enforcement agencies strive to meet these evolving expectations, tools like Veritone Contact transform how stop data is collected, managed, and submitted. This AI-driven platform allows agencies to dramatically reduce the time officers spend filling out reports, without compromising the quality or accuracy of the data.
Take SLOPD, for example. By integrating Veritone Contact, the department reduced the time it takes to complete a stop report to just two minutes per individual, even for stops involving multiple people. The Orange Police Department saw similar results, reducing reporting time from 10 minutes to just two.
Veritone’s support doesn’t end at the front end of the process. With the DOJ’s submission deadline looming, SLOPD also used Veritone Professional Services to clean up and organize previously collected data, ensuring it met DOJ standards and was ready for submission.
Building trust through transparency
With the help of platforms like Veritone Contact, law enforcement agencies are improving efficiency and enhancing accountability and transparency. The ability to generate custom reports gives departments valuable insight into their interactions with the community, helping to identify patterns, improve officer training, and address potential bias.
Moreover, with Contact Analytics, agencies gain real-time data analysis and insights. Rather than waiting months for reports on this data and spending hours manually sifting through it, agencies can leverage these valuable insights more timely and then take any necessary action.
Lastly, these tools help rebuild public trust. When agencies can reliably and efficiently share meaningful data about their work, communities can better understand how they’re being served—and how officers are being held accountable.
Accountability and transparency in law enforcement
As the demand for government transparency continues to grow, law enforcement agencies need modern solutions to meet data collection mandates without compromising public safety. AI data collection tools like Veritone Contact not only streamline compliance with laws like RIPA but also support the deeper goals of equity, accountability, and community trust.
By embracing technology, agencies are taking a critical step forward—not just in data collection, but in strengthening the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Learn more about Veritone contact
Further Reading:
https://www.veritone.com/blog/overcoming-the-top-challenges-of-digital-evidence-management/
https://www.veritone.com/blog/the-future-of-ai-in-law-enforcement/
https://www.veritone.com/blog/government-data-collection-best-practices/
Sources:
https://oag.ca.gov/ab953/regulations