A quantitative predictive study of drug trafficker behavioral characteristics impacting police actions

This quantitative secondary correlational data analysis examined how an individual will disguise behavior to create a non-criminal appearance and reveal personal behaviors in an attempt to deceive law enforcement officers. The rational choice theory posits offenders weigh potential benefits and consequences associated with committing an offense and then make a rational choice based on this evaluation. Theoretical ideas were expanded in this study to include the implicit theory of personality, which explains how individuals use certain influences to affect how other persons will perceive them. Buller and Burgoon (1996) developed the interpersonal deception theory to explain how individuals deal with actual or perceived deception on conscious and subconscious levels in hopes of deceiving someone. This quantitative study was used to show trends in behavioral characteristics associated with arrest rates with drug trafficking offenders and how behavioral characteristics led to arrest for these suspected drug traffickers. The results of this quantitative study revealed a direct correlation between behavioral variables and emphasized which variables had the strongest association with arrest decisions. Logistic regression was used to explore direct correlation between variables and arrest rates. Hypotheses were supported by results; however, no singular variable or characteristic led to arrest decisions. A combination of variables led to arrest decisions. The study results of the current research will create a better understanding and usage of drug trafficker characteristics in profiling individuals for arrest decisions and possibly decrease negative characteristics (i.e., racial profiling) being used for arrest decision.