In the most comprehensive analysis of police use of force ever conducted in the United States, a groundbreaking study has revealed the staggering scale of law enforcement violence across the nation. The research, carried out by nonprofit organization Mapping Police Violence, paints a disturbing picture of pervasive force used against civilians, with minorities disproportionately affected and accountability measures falling short.

The study, which obtained data from over 2,800 law enforcement agencies covering nearly 60% of the U.S. population, found that police use force against at least 300,000 civilians each year. This figure, representing incidents where officers discharged weapons or applied physical force, is likely an underestimate given the limitations in data reporting and collection.

The Scale of Police Violence

The sheer magnitude of police use of force incidents is staggering. In addition to the 300,000 people who experience physical force or weapon discharges, an estimated 200,000 more face displays or threats of force annually. This means that on any given day, nearly 1,400 Americans are subjected to some form of police force.

Perhaps most alarmingly, over 80% of people who experienced police use of force were reportedly unarmed. This statistic raises serious questions about the necessity and proportionality of force used by law enforcement officers in many situations.

The physical toll of these encounters is significant. According to the study, 3 in 10 people subjected to police force were injured, translating to approximately 100,000 injuries from police use of force each year. These injuries range from minor bruises to severe trauma, with some victims potentially facing long-term disabilities or chronic pain as a result.

Racial Disparities in Use of Force

The study’s findings on racial disparities in police use of force are particularly damning. Black people experienced force at over 3 times the rate of white people across jurisdictions providing demographic data. This disparity is even more pronounced than the racial gap in fatal police shootings, suggesting that non-fatal use of force may be an even more pervasive form of racial discrimination in policing.

The data shows that Black people were 33% of those reported to have experienced police use of force in 2022, despite being only 14% of the population across jurisdictions reporting data by race/ethnicity. In contrast, white people were 33% of those impacted despite being 45% of the population. The disparity in overall use of force appears to be even more extreme than in fatal encounters, with Black people experiencing overall use of force at 3.2 times the rate of whites, compared to being killed by police at 2.6 times the rate.

The Aftermath of Force Incidents

The study also sheds light on what happens after police use force. Most people subjected to police force were subsequently arrested, primarily for alleged non-violent offenses. This pattern suggests that force is often used in situations that do not involve serious crimes or immediate threats to public safety.

The data reveals that the vast majority of people who police use force against were not alleged to be involved in any violent crime. Among the jurisdictions that reported data on the initial call type or resulting charges, fewer than 40% of their use of force incidents involved violent call types or civilians who were later charged with a violent crime.

Persistence of Force Despite Reform Efforts

One of the most disheartening findings of the study is that use of force rates have remained relatively constant over the past several years, despite widespread protests and calls for police reform following high-profile killings like that of George Floyd in 2020.

The researchers found that only about 1 in 6 agencies reduced force by one-third or more in the two years following George Floyd’s murder. Even more concerning, half of the agencies actually increased their use of force during this time period, indicating that public outcry and incremental reforms have had limited impact on police behavior.

Promising Approaches and Policy Implications

Despite the overall lack of progress, the study did identify some promising approaches associated with reduced use of force:

1. Reducing arrests for low-level offenses: Agencies that made fewer arrests for minor infractions tended to have lower rates of force incidents.
2. Federal and state-initiated reform agreements: Jurisdictions with active Department of Justice reform agreements in effect from 2017-2022 reported a 22% reduction in overall use of force during this period.
3. Reducing police budgets and personnel: Contrary to some political rhetoric, the data showed that larger police budgets were associated with higher use of force rates.

The researchers recommend establishing a “National Early Intervention System” that would automatically intervene when police agencies report excessive force levels or fail to disclose force data. This system could trigger investigations, mandated reforms, or even the withholding of federal funding for non-compliant agencies.

Additionally, the study calls for expanding non-police alternative response programs, especially in communities most impacted by police violence. These programs, which dispatch mental health professionals or social workers to certain types of calls instead of armed officers, have shown promise in reducing use of force incidents in cities where they’ve been implemented.

Challenges in Data Collection and Transparency

The study also highlights significant gaps in data collection and reporting on police use of force. Many agencies still do not comprehensively track or disclose force incidents, and there is no standardized national database of police use of force.

The researchers faced particular challenges in obtaining data from smaller jurisdictions and certain states with restrictive public records laws. They recommend revising state laws to classify police use of force records as public information and establishing more comprehensive state and federal data collection programs.

Of all states, police agencies in Mississippi, Alabama, and Kentucky were the least transparent, providing use of force data in fewer than 25% of all requests filed. Agencies in these states imposed various restrictions on access to records, such as requiring notarized forms, in-person visits to review records, or prohibiting access to anyone without an in-state form of identification.

Looking Ahead: The Need for Systemic Change

As the most extensive examination of police use of force to date, this study provides crucial evidence for policymakers, activists, and communities grappling with issues of police violence and accountability. Its findings make clear that police use of force extends far beyond just fatal encounters, affecting hundreds of thousands of Americans every year.

The researchers hope their unprecedented database will inform further studies and policy changes aimed at reducing police violence nationwide. They plan to continue expanding the database to cover more jurisdictions over time, providing an even clearer picture of the state of policing in America.

As the nation continues to grapple with issues of police violence and systemic racism, this study serves as a stark reminder of the work that remains to be done. It challenges policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and communities to move beyond incremental reforms and consider more transformative approaches to public safety – approaches that prioritize de-escalation, community investment, and alternatives to armed police responses.

The path forward will require difficult conversations, innovative thinking, and a willingness to reimagine the role of law enforcement in society. But with hundreds of thousands of Americans facing police violence each year, the urgency for change has never been clearer. The data presented in this groundbreaking study provides a roadmap for designing future interventions and transforming how we respond to social issues in our communities.