Enforcement of low-level warrants in the City of St. Louis: Officer decision making and implications for policy and practice

Abstract

Abstract Warrants are commonplace in the USA, especially bench warrants issued for non-compliance with court orders. Although warrants compel arrest, in practice, officers exercise discretion when enforcing low-level warrants; yet, this discretion goes undocumented and data on warrant enforcement are limited. This collaboration between St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the University of Missouri—St. Louis addresses these gaps. Using arrest data, we find that warrant arrests in St. Louis declined from 2002 to 2019. One-third of arrests involve a bench warrant, primarily stemming from traffic violations, and many involve no new charges. Racial disparities in warrant enforcement exist, but data are needed to uncover why. Informal focus groups and meetings with St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department personnel held from 2018 to 2021 provide insight into the role of warrants in officer decision making. We argue that reducing resources devoted to warrant enforcement and racial disparities requires collaboration between police and other stakeholders.