Studies

Research on racial bias in policing

“Cities with police departments where whites are in the highest position of power have 40 percent more fatal officer-involved shootings than cities with blacks in power.” Results hold after controlling for crime rates and city racial makeup.

“Homicides were less likely to be solved in communities with higher proportions of minorities, for both minority and white victims.” & “Among African-American victims, homicide clearance was less likely during the years 2015–2017, compared to 10 years ago."

“Of course, the use of deadly force by police is sometimes justifiable. But when the triggering circumstances are ambiguous, Black people are far more likely to be killed by the police than white people.” & “Policing in the United States is in urgent need of reform."

“Minority … officers reported lower levels of psychological safety and attachment to the organization. Minority officers were also less likely to perceive they were treated fairly. “

“Officers are more likely to use the Taser on non-White and male suspects, controlling for level of resistance, call type, and other factors associated with the incident… Cases involving suspect flight indicate an even greater impact of race and gender on Taser use."

“The greater the proportion of Black residents in a block group, the more likely the police will also downgrade (or at least upgrade less) [their response to incidents] compared to other places… even when including violent crime rates."

“This study documents how nondelinquent youth, who live in high-crime areas, who are intimately involved in churches… and who generally like the police, experience law enforcement in urban neighborhoods and schools… sacrificed on the altar of public safety."

“It appears as though the infusion of Latino and African-American officers into the tradi- tional policing culture served to ‘unfreeze’ and change many of the pre-existing, less community-oriented attitudes held by non-minority officers."

“After recruiting a [most qualified] Black applicant in one job selection task, participants were more likely to express a preference for a White in a second, unrelated [police] job selection task… Moral credentials… reaffirm one’s self-image as a nonprejudiced person."