UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1079 | Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement

Submission information

Submission Number: 1079

Submission ID: 19991

Submission UUID: 7028d84d-aec6-440f-a031-e4cce0f60f98

Submission URI: /urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal

Submission Update: /urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=9b1-BWDpXwvSr6QOtuaYBe-sgU7B8Ark2GybP-UnSWY

Created: Tue, 08/05/2025 - 02:29 PM

Completed: Tue, 08/05/2025 - 02:29 PM

Changed: Thu, 09/25/2025 - 01:10 PM

Remote IP address: 128.186.217.175

Submitted by: Anonymous

Language: English

Is draft: No

Webform: UROP Project Proposal Portal

Submitted to: UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal

Research Mentor Information

Primary Research Mentor Name Keller Sheppard

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Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) ksheppard@fsu.edu

Position Title Faculty

FSU College (if applicable) Criminology and Criminal Justice

FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation Criminology and Criminal Justice

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Additional Research Mentor(s)

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Overall Project Details

Title of the Project Police Use of Fatal Force: Circumstances, Agencies, and Places

Project Keywords Police, Use of Force, Communities and Crime

Are you currently looking for research assistants? No

Number of Research Assistants Needed 3

Relevant Research Assistant Major(s) Open to all majors, but prefer Criminology and Criminal Justice majors

Project Location: On FSU Main Campus

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Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s): Partially Remote

Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work? 10

Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work? Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)

Overall Research Project Description The purpose of this project is to deepen the understanding of the causes and consequences of fatal police use of force by building on and improving existing data resources. Over the past two decades, several independent data collection efforts—such as Fatal Encounters, the Washington Post’s Fatal Force Dataset, and Mapping Police Violence—have sought to document these incidents. While these datasets have significantly advanced research in this area, each has unique strengths and limitations. This project aims to consolidate information from these sources, ensuring that researchers and policymakers have access to the most comprehensive and accurate data available on fatal encounters with law enforcement.

In addition to refining the merged dataset, the project will specifically focus on addressing gaps in prior compilations. This includes classifying incidents that resulted in a citizen fatality but were not caused by firearms, providing a more complete understanding of the circumstances under which deaths occur. The dataset will also be updated to include fatal incidents from 2024, ensuring that the information reflects the most current trends and patterns. By enhancing and expanding this resource, the project seeks to improve the foundation for future research, policy development, and public discussions surrounding police use of deadly force.

Research Tasks A research assistant working on this project will play a key role in strengthening the quality and reliability of the updated dataset on fatal police use of force incidents. One of their primary responsibilities will be to assist in the development and execution of a coding protocol for classifying incidents that did not involve firearms. This task will require reviewing incident narratives, identifying relevant variables, and applying consistent coding decisions to ensure that these cases are accurately captured and distinguished from firearm-related fatalities. The research assistant will also participate in refining and testing the coding protocol to improve clarity, reliability, and reproducibility across all classified cases.

In addition, the research assistant will be responsible for verifying incident details drawn from multiple sources to ensure data accuracy and completeness. This may involve cross-referencing case information with original reporting, public records, or official statements to resolve discrepancies. They will also help facilitate the merging of data from Fatal Encounters, the Washington Post’s Fatal Force Dataset, Mapping Police Violence, and other relevant sources. This process will include identifying duplicate entries, aligning variables across datasets, and documenting decisions to maintain a transparent data integration process. Through these activities, the research assistant will directly contribute to producing a consolidated, high-quality dataset that supports rigorous research and policy analysis on fatal police use of force.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Attention to detail and a willingness to learn are the only required skills for this project.

Mentoring Philosophy My mentorship philosophy is rooted in the belief that research is most impactful when students have the opportunity to see and engage with the full scope of the project. I strive to ensure that students understand not only the specific tasks they are assigned but also how these tasks fit into the broader research questions, goals, and implications of the work. By connecting day-to-day activities to the larger purpose of the project, I aim to help students develop a deeper understanding of the research process and the real-world significance of their contributions.

I believe that research is inherently collaborative, and I value working closely with students as colleagues in inquiry. My approach is to actively involve students in all stages of the research process, including the conceptualization of research questions, design and execution of data collection, through the stages of analysis, interpretation, and writing. I view mentorship as a two-way process, where students bring fresh perspectives and ideas that enrich the work, while I provide guidance, feedback, and opportunities for skill development. My goal is to foster an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and empowered to grow as independent researchers, equipped with both technical expertise and a strong sense of how rigorous research can inform policy and practice.

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Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable? No

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UROP Program Elements

Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication Yes

UROP Performance Evaluation Yes

Materials Grant Yes

UROP Poster Presentation Yes

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Year 2025

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