As of July 3, 2019, Dr. Patrick Webb, a faculty member of the criminal justice department at SAU, has entered into an agreement with the Wake County Sheriff’s Office to conduct research in relation to youth arrest rates in Wake County. This will involve gathering information among officers in relation to their 1) level of awareness, 2) explanations, and 3) proposed solutions in association with the disproportionate amount of minority youth who were arrested between 2002-2014. The intent of this research is to ensure public safety and trust by fostering an objective, evidence-based approach with regards to policy development and officer training.