An evaluation of the Mapping Police Violence project must examine what the project claims it will do and then compare this to what it actually does. Mapping Police Violences’ goal is to provide data that is the most comprehensive accounting of people killed by police to provide greater transparency and accountability for police departments as part of the ongoing campaign to end police violence in our communities. The project does a very good job of completing it’s goal by having numerous pages and countless amounts of interesting and in depth data provided on its website. The one problem Mapping Police Violence has is that there are police killings that go unreported by the media that are not included in their database. The project still believes that their database captures 98% of the total number of police killings that have occurred since 2013.
At the time of writing this evaluation the website itself is still young, but is updated consistently as shown by scrolling all the way down to the bottom of the website where it shows the last update occurred on September 25, 2018. Because of the websites young age, it has a very modern, clean design and very good usability for its visitors. Mapping Police Violence does a fantastic job of giving the user the ability to learn what the project has to teach.
The project uses two major methods of conveying it’s information, which means using two forms of methodology. The first methodology used is map methodology. The site’s interactive maps and visuals let the visitor explore a timeline and and actually see the events involving police killings occur as they pop up on the map in chronological order. The site also uses graphs and different types of graphics to provide users with comprehensive data in a interactive way. Below are two samples of the map and graphics used on the site:
The second methodology the project uses is its database methodology. The project allows the user to compare cities and states in terms of the amount and different types of police violence. While comparing cities and states, the website lets you filter by police department and city violent crime rate. Mapping Police Violence even lets you search for a victim by name, race, gender, and if they had a mental illness. While this feature is not the flashest part of the project, the Police Accountability Tool is why Mapping Police Violence is so good at completing their goal of the project.
The project mainly targets people interested in social justice, and does so successfully. The information the project presents is very in depth and informative. The tools available to the user give a interactive and positive experience with their Mapping Police Violence project.