A new study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions and Vanderbilt University found that an average of 1,769 people were injured annually in police shootings from 2015 to 2020, 55 percent of them or 979 people, fatally.
Tag: Police
New Report Shares First-Hand Experiences of Young Americans’ Relationship with Guns
New Report Shares First-Hand Experiences of Young Americans’ Relationship with Guns
Losing sleep over killings of unarmed Black individuals by police
Black adults across the United States suffer from sleep problems following exposure to news about unarmed Black individuals killed by police during police encounters, according to new findings published today in JAMA Internal Medicine from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
New research indicates some people may be physically unable to use police breathalysers
Some people may be physically unable to use the current evidential breath analysis machines, relied upon by police to gather proof of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, new research from the University of Sheffield indicates.
New program will provide prompt mental health support at UC Irvine
Irvine, Calif., Sept. 12, 2023 — The University of California, Irvine and the Be Well OC Mobile Crisis Response Team are launching an innovative, mobile crisis intervention program aimed at supporting mental health within the campus community.
Police Involvement May Hamstring Overdose Outreach Efforts
A new study finds law enforcement plays a critical role in launching programs designed to reduce the risk of repeat overdoses in people who use drugs.
Vehicle stop study illuminates importance of officer’s first words
“Simply put, the officer starts off with a command rather than a reason in escalated stops.” Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, the peer-reviewed research also found that Black men could often predict a stop’s outcome simply by listening to those same 45 words, which generally spanned less than 30 seconds.
The Intersection of Race, Gender, and Policing: Following the Public Impact
UNLV law professor Frank Rudy Cooper on the psychological impact of repeated exposure to videos of violent and deadly police encounters that increasingly circulate online; the role that slavery and societal norms surrounding masculinity play into them; and police reforms that might be in the works.
UC Irvine Police Department commits to advancing women in law enforcement
The University of California, Irvine Police Department is among law enforcement agencies nationwide committing to the 30×30 Pledge, which is a collection of low- and no-cost actions to improve the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement. These actions can help policing agencies assess the current state of a department regarding gender equity; identify factors that may be driving disparities; and develop and implement strategies and solutions to eliminate barriers and advance women in policing.
UC San Diego Expert on Violence Assesses Police Brutality and Mass Shootings in America
Tage Rai is a psychologist and assistant professor of management at UC San Diego’s Rady School of Management who studies ethics and violence. He co-authored the book “Virtuous Violence” outlining research which finds that most acts of violence are driven by moral motives on the part of perpetrators. That is, perpetrators believe they are doing the right thing when they hurt and kill their victims. In this Q&A, Rai, who teaches negotiation at the Rady School, addresses dual crises impacting America—police brutality and gun violence—and what can be done to prevent them.
WashU Expert: Commonly used police diversity training unlikely to change officers’ behavior
Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man who died after a confrontation with police during a traffic stop earlier this month in Memphis, has become the latest face in a racial justice and police reform movement fueled by a string of…
Commonly used police diversity training unlikely to change officers’ behavior, study finds
New research from Washington University in St. Louis suggests that the day-long implicit bias-oriented training programs now common in most U.S. police departments are unlikely to reduce racial inequity in policing.
In some US zip codes, young men face more risk of firearm death than those deployed in recent wars
The risk of firearm death in the U.S. is on the rise: in 2020, firearms became the leading cause of death for children, adolescents and young adults. Yet the risk is far from even — young men in some U.S. zip codes face disproportionately higher risks of firearm-related injuries and deaths.
At overdose events, arrests by police and combative behavior are rare, study finds
While police officers are often dispatched alongside other first responders when drug overdoses are reported, an analysis of hundreds of overdose events in one Rhode Island city found that there were scant incidents that actually needed involvement from law enforcement.
Independent Panel Report into Fans’ Experiences at the 2022 European Champions League Final
An independent panel report, based on the written testimonies of 485 women, men and children, and eyewitness accounts by international journalists, tells the story of those who survived extreme violence at the hands of the police and local gangs before and after the European Champions League Final in Paris, May 2022.
Compiled by five leading authorities in their respective fields, including author of the ground-breaking report into the Hillsborough disaster, Professor Emeritus Phil Scraton from the School of Law at Queen’s University Belfast, the report, “Treated with Contempt”: An Independent Panel Report into Fans’ Experiences Before, During and After the 2022 Champions League Final in Paris, details survivors’ written evidence submitted in the days after the event.
Trust in the police?
The murder of African-American George Floyd in May 2020 led to worldwide protests against police violence. Not least because of these developments, in Europe, too, the relationship between the police and ethnic minorities has been a hotly debated topic in the recent past.
Legal language affects how police officers are judged
Research by social psychology doctoral student Mikaela Spruill and her adviser, Neil Lewis Jr., assistant professor of communication, revealed that referring to police using the legal phrase “objectively reasonable” puts the officer in a more favorable light, regardless of race.
Police Training Needs Urgent Reforms, New Report from American University Reveals
The instructional models that are used to train police officers across the U.S. are in many cases antiquated, inadequate, and in critical need of immediate transformation, according to a new report by American University’s School of Public Affairs.
Study Shows Contact with Police May Be Detrimental to Health, Well-Being of Black Youth
According to a Johns Hopkins Medicine study published today in JAMA Pediatrics, exposure to police — even in instances in which the officers are providing assistance — may be detrimental to the health and well-being of Black youth, especially males, and can be associated with poor mental health, substance use, risky sexual behaviors and impaired safety.
Officers’ tone of voice reflects racial disparities in policing
The Black Lives Matter movement has brought increasing attention to disparities in how police officers treat Black and white Americans. Now, research published by the American Psychological Association finds that disparity may exist even in subtle differences in officers’ tone of voice when they address Black and white drivers during routine traffic stops.
Arizona State University Law Enforcement Experts Available for Interviews on Community-police Relationship
Authoritative, well-researched perspectives on police use of force and law enforcement’s relationship with the communities they serve are available from members of the faculty of the highly respected School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University as the…
FRIDAY, MAY 21: Expert Panel on Policing and Racism, Insights from Psychological Science
A panel of experts in psychological science will present the latest research on racial bias and police encounters. Journalists are invited to attend this one-hour panel presented by the Association for Psychological Science. WHEN: Friday, May 21, 2021; 2:30 p.m. EDT WHERE: Via Zoom (link will be provided to registered journalists); register at [email protected] TOPICS WILL INCLUDE: …
Experts Available: The Jury Verdict in the Trial of Derek Chauvin
As the jury’s verdict of guilty on all three charges was announced in the trial of Derek Chauvin, Stony Brook University has subject matter experts who can provide perspective and dimension as to the ramifications of the verdict. Experts available…
Policing Expert Available to Discuss Derek Chauvin Verdict, Police Policy and Californians’ Views on Police Reform
Christine Gardiner, professor of criminal justice at California State University, Fullerton, is available to discuss the verdict of the Derek Chauvin trial, policing policy, and results from a California public opinion poll conducted in August of 2020, within months of…
Wayne State developing statewide mental health program to address stress among first responders and their families
The Wayne State University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Sciences has teamed with the State of Michigan to develop a comprehensive behavioral and mental health training and support program for the state’s first responders and their families to address the stress they face in their duties protecting residents.
Study Aims to Break the Chains of Incarceration in African American Males
The majority of African American men return to prison within one to three years of their first release. A study explores why re-entry programs are not as effective for them when compared to others. Researchers suggest a holistic approach that addresses psychological and historical trauma in conjunction with the environmental factors that perpetuate the stigma justice-involved African American men experience. The approach accounts for negative associations developed in the centuries of oppression and segregation that shape their current societal interactions.
Policing Expert’s Studies Show Proposed Bill to Change Required Age, Education for California Cops has Merit
National and California studies by Christine Gardiner, professor of criminal justice at Cal State Fullerton, show college-educated officers are better at documenting investigation, more technology efficient, and may be less resistant to organizational change.
Policing Expert Available to Comment on California’s Proposed AB-89
Christine Gardiner, is a professor of criminal justice at California State University, Fullerton, and senior research fellow for the Police Foundation. She conducted two major studies on the role of higher education in policing (one on California specifically, the other…
How a police contact by middle school leads to different outcomes for Black, white youth
A new University of Washington study finds that Black youth are more likely than white youth to be treated as “usual suspects” after a first encounter with police, leading to subsequent arrests over time. Even as white young adults report engaging in significantly more illegal behavior, Black young adults face more criminal penalties.
LifeBridge Health Launches Innovative New Center for Hope, Comprehensive Violence Intervention and Prevention Services Integrated Together Under One Roof
LifeBridge Health launched the Center for Hope, the first comprehensive violence intervention and prevention center in the nation that is part of a large regional health system. The Center for Hope brings together LifeBridge Health services around child abuse, domestic abuse and elder abuse along with community violence prevention programs, including a new Safe Streets site. The building design, which will be revealed at groundbreaking event, was created to welcome children, youth and adults into a space that fosters hope, safety and wellness, including an outdoor area for therapeutic play. The purpose of the Center for Hope is to advance hope, healing and resilience for those impacted by trauma, abuse and violence through comprehensive response, treatment, education and prevention.
Protests in Nigeria: AU Professor Available for Commentary and Analysis
Deadly Protests in Nigeria: AU Professor Available for Commentary and Analysis What: As peaceful protests against police brutality have turned deadly in Nigeria, with several demonstrators killed by security forces, Carl LeVan, professor at American University’s School of International Service,…
Ban on Nigeria rogue police unit may not end abuses
Authorities in Nigeria disbanded a controversial police unit following nationwide protests to end police brutality. The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) had been linked to several recent cases of kidnapping, murder and extortion that fueled citizens’ outcry over its tactics and…
Black police officers disciplined disproportionately for misconduct, IU research finds
An examination of racial differences in the disciplining of police officers in three of the largest U.S. cities consistently found that Black officers were more frequently disciplined for misconduct than White officers, despite an essentially equal number of allegations being leveled. This included allegations of severe misconduct.
Abandoned Buildings, Fear of Calling Police Contribute to High Rate of Fatal Overdoses in Philadelphia, New Study Shows
Abandoned Buildings, Fear of Calling Police Contribute to High Rate of Fatal Overdoses in Philadelphia, New Study Shows
Tulane scholar decries state of race relations in America
Race relations in the Unites States will continue to deteriorate until there are clear, concise and decisive actions taken at all levels in disavowing racial bias, intolerance and violence, a Tulane sociologist says. “There are no ‘two sides’ to this,”…
ASU researcher to study police de-escalation to incorporate into officer training
The ongoing protests over racism in the United States have fueled conversations about the role of policing, including demands for officers to focus on “de-escalating” situations before they become violent. William Terrill, a professor of criminology at Arizona State University,…
Community-service partnership improves youths’ perception of police, ASU research shows
In his latest research, Adam Fine, an assistant professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, explores how those attitudes diverge by race at a young age, and how a specific community-service partnership program called Team Kids can change youths’ views toward police officers. His paper, “Police Legitimacy: Identifying Developmental Trends and Whether Youths’ Perceptions Can be Changed,” was published recently in the Journal of Experimental Criminology.
United States should implement nationwide truth commission on police violence against Black people
The United States needs to implement a nationwide truth commission on police violence against Black people, according to Kerry Whigham, assistant professor of genocide and mass atrocity prevention at Binghamton University, State University of New York. “If recent instances of…
Utah public safety research in focus following Chicago violence
In a briefing on July 9, Chicago Police Department Superintendent David Brown invoked research by University of Utah professors Paul Cassell and Richard Fowles to support a call for reform of the city’s policies on releasing defendants in violent crimes.…
ISU Police hope to lead by example in community policing efforts
The Iowa State University Police Department wants to serve as an example for other law enforcement agencies to see how acknowledging and working to change problems within the profession can turn into positive change in their communities. The department’s Engagement and Inclusion Officer Team is being recognized for its work in this area.
Brown School’s Race and Opportunity Lab recommends specific policing reforms
As the nation struggles with police violence, a new report from HomeGrown StL in the Race and Opportunity Lab at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis recommends reforms to build an equitable, transparent and accountable public safety approach that will include lawsuit liability, a police misconduct database and federal funding mandates.
Studies examine how race affects perceptions of law-involved Blacks, school discipline
The extent of discriminatory treatment Black adults and children experience at every point of contact within the legal system and the biases that result in Black children’s behavior being managed more harshly in school are detailed in two new analyses from researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
WashU Expert: Congress unlikely to act on police reform
The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate are at a stalemate over enacting sweeping police reforms in the wake of the death of George Floyd and other Black Americans. The gulf between the Democratic and Republican proposed solutions is wide and neither side seems willing to bend, says a law expert on criminal reform at Washington University in St.
Protesting Police Brutality: UNLV African American Studies Professor on How Protests Can Enact Social Change
The days and weeks following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota have been marked by a civil rights movement that — in terms of size and structure — could be considered larger than…
Religion may offer protective role for black adolescent boys who experience police abuse
In the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks and many more, a new study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis finds that religion may offer a protective role for black adolescent boys who experience police abuse.
Criminal justice professor available to speak on executive order banning chokeholds
In the aftermath of the death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers, intense public debate has been focused on the use of chokeholds by police officers on suspects. Several police departments and/or their government leaders…
Two-thirds of African Americans know someone mistreated by police, and 22% report mistreatment in past year
Sixty-eight percent of African Americans say they know someone who has been unfairly stopped, searched, questioned, physically threatened or abused by the police, and 43 percent say they personally have had this experience—with 22 percent saying the mistreatment occurred within the past year alone, according to survey results from Tufts University’s Research Group on Equity in Health, Wealth and Civic Engagement.
Jurors respond negatively to police overreactions to Black Americans
Psychology and criminal justice researchers are now trying to determine the various influences of body-worn camera footage, such as its impact on trial outcomes.
Is defunding the police a good idea? ASU expert says taking a closer look at police budgets and emphasizing community-based programming is sound thinking
“Defund the police” has been a popular rallying cry at recent protests across the nation. Originated by the Black Lives Matter movement and police reform activists, the slogan was introduced to the public last week and is quickly picking up steam…
Militarized, ‘ready for battle’ police make dialogue with protesters difficult
Clashes between police and protesters escalated this week across the United States, as public outrage continued over police brutality and systemic racism. Sabrina Karim, assistant professor of government at Cornell University, is an international expert on police reform. She says…