Inaccuracies in Eviction Records

Implications for Renters and Researchers

Bibliographic Data

ID21633727
AuthorsAdam Porton (Princeton University), Ashley Gromis (Princeton University), M Desmond (0000-0002-4759-5465, Princeton University, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume31
Issue3-5
Pages377-394
Publication date2021-09-03
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHousing Policy Debate (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1051-1482 • E-ISSN: 2152-050X
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10511482.2020.1748084
OpenAlexW3044153529
LanguageEN
Citations received21
References cited27

Administrative court records are increasingly used to study the prevalence of eviction. Yet inaccuracies in court records bias estimates of eviction and distort tenants’ true rental histories. This is the first study to systematically assess the prevalence of inaccuracies across jurisdictions. Drawing on over 3.6 million administrative eviction court records from 12 states, we find that, on average, 22% of eviction records contain ambiguous information on how the case was resolved or falsely represent a tenant’s eviction history. Adjusting for multiple inaccuracies in the data produces significantly different eviction rate estimates. Cases with increased complexity, such as those involving multiple tenants and lawyers, are more likely to contain inaccuracies. However, inaccuracies vary most prominently between states, indicating that state court system characteristics fundamentally shape the official record of the evicted population

Actuarial science · Business · Eviction · Political science · Population · Renting · Sociology · Demography · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Homelessness and Social Issues · Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism · Law

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