According to the US Department of Justice, traffic stops are the single most common point of contact between community members and law enforcement. Yet, the data needed to understand policing practices and racial disparities is often difficult to access and interpret.
Forward Justice created NC CopWatch to make that data publicly available and accessible to everyone, providing North Carolina community members with access to law enforcement stop, search, and use of force data.
The site displays this data in interactive graphs and charts and incorporates features that allow the user to compare the traffic stop data to local population demographics, as well as review traffic stop data for individual departments and officers over time. More than a public data portal, NC CopWatch is a statewide police accountability tool created to support community organizing, public education, litigation, and policy advocacy. The site should operate as an advocacy tool for those seeking meaningful policy changes in law enforcement practices.
Visit NCCopwatch.org to explore the data, learn more about policing patterns in your community, and support advocacy efforts.