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.
Tag: Police
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…

IU experts available to comment on race, policing and criminal justice
Protests have erupted all over the nation in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other African Americans killed by police. The Black Lives Matter movement has called out these latest deaths as evidence of police brutality…

Department culture can escalate to police brutality, ASU expert says
The premature death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer caught on video May 25 raises questions as to how a call to investigate a person suspected of forgery can end up in tragedy. In the…
Policing experts weigh in on protests and police practices across the nation
As large-scale protests continue following the death of George Floyd, Americans are apprehensive about what can repair relations between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, and when the healing process can begin. Experts from Arizona State University’s highly…

IU experts available to comment on racism, social justice, policing, role of media in light of George Floyd protests
Protests are erupting across the country after George Floyd died while in police custody. Video of Floyd, a black man, telling a white police officer he couldn’t breathe while the officer kneeled on Floyd’s neck has sparked outrage and led…

COVID-19 creates new dangers for police, says WVU criminologist, but opportunity awaits for police reform
James Nolan, professor of sociology at West Virginia University and former police officer, believes the COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity for police reform that could break the chains of outdated, and perhaps ineffective, approaches to policing.
Face-to-face contact with police builds trust in fledgling states
CORNELL UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICEFOR RELEASE: Feb. 13, 2020 Rebecca Valli office: 607-255-6035 cell: 607-793-1025 [email protected] Face-to-face contact with police builds trust in fledgling states ITHACA, N.Y. – After times of major conflict, such as the civil wars…
IMPROVING EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION KEY TO PROTECTING INNOCENT PEOPLE
Law enforcement officials can reduce mistakes by eyewitnesses to crimes if they follow a series of recommendations that include interviewing witnesses as soon as possible after a crime and videotaping the session, according to the American Psychology-Law Society, a division of the American Psychological Association.

MD Who Volunteers as Reserve Officer Saves a Life on Duty
Two years ago, Dr. Paul Strauss began living a double life — working both as a reserve police officer at LAPD’s Southwest station and as an anesthesiologist at Cedars-Sinai. Recently, those two careers converged to save the life of a military veteran who was threatening to kill herself.
How first responders can protect themselves from the coronavirus
Healthcare personnel working on the front lines to contain and prevent the spread of the new coronavirus that originated in China need to take special, yet common, precautions to keep themselves and others safe.
Students, Iowa State police join forces to design new police gear
Iowa State University industrial design students are collaborating with the ISU Police Department to examine the issues police officers face with their uniforms, gear and vehicles – and what designers can do to help solve those problems.
HERE’S WHAT POLICE KNOW ABOUT DIGITAL EVIDENCE
Researchers from Michigan State Unviersity are among the first to measure how well law enforcement officers can identify and use digital evidence.
STRATEGIES TO LOWER RISK FOR VIOLENT CRIME AND GUN VIOLENCE
With violent crimes and gun violence rising annually and the number of gun deaths in the U.S. surpassing all other nations, researchers at the annual meeting of The Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) present a series of studies during its Study of Violent Crime and Gun Violence symposium which contributes several new frameworks that can be used toward improving laws, civilian strategies, legislation and police response, as well as the overall study of risk in society. The Symposium will occur on Monday, December 9 at 10:30 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.
Why Americans Don’t Fully Trust Many Who Hold Positions of Power
The public gives high scores to military leaders, public school principals and police officers on empathy, transparency and ethics, yet they rate members of Congress and leaders of technology companies lower, according to a new Pew Research Center report.
NYPD’s mental health move a step in the right direction
The NYPD recently announced they revised their fitness-for-duty policy and will no longer automatically strip police of their badges if they are dealing with mental illness. Bill Sonnenstuhl, associate professor of organizational behavior who specializes in employee assistance programs and…

Police violence a leading cause of death among specific U.S. groups, ‘sobering’ study finds
Violence at the hands of police is a leading cause of death for young men in the United States, finds a new study involving Washington University in St. Louis.“Over the life course, about 1 in every 1,000 black men can expect to be killed by police,” said Hedwig (Hedy) Lee, professor of sociology in Arts & Sciences and associate director of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity.