Police brutality is a hot topic in society right now. Advocates, activists, lawmakers, and society in general are paying more attention to what many call systemic racial disparities in policing. With the advent and growth of the Black Lives Matter movement, the issue has gained even more attention.
The idea that there are systemic racial disparities in policing is not a new concept, and it’s not just talk. There are studies and data that show racial bias in policing.
Despite the increased attention to the matter, most Americans don’t really know just how this affects our society and Black communities. Outside of the biased media reports and politics, there are some real issues related to police brutality that Americans should be aware of.
6 Things You Didn’t Know About Police Brutality
Take a look at these 6 things that most people don’t know about police brutality, that could affect your opinion on the issue.
1. American Police Shoot More People than Police in Other Countries
According to the FBI’s database, police in the United States kill hundreds of people each year. The number is far more than other developed countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. In 2014, The Economist reported 458 police-involved shootings in the U.S. Japan and the UK each reported none, and Germany reported only 8.
2. Police-Involved Killings Have Doubled
The number of police-involved killings in the U.S. has doubled over the past two decades. Since 2000, the number has grown at an alarming rate. In 2000, there were 800 police-involved deaths. In 2014, there were 1,700. Many believe the increase is due to police militarization after 9/11.
3. There are Racial Disparities in How Police Use Force
Police-involved killings disproportionately affect Black Americans. FBI data shows that 31% of police victims were Black in 2012. Racial minorities accounted for 62% of unarmed police killings.
4. Police Can Use Deadly Force for Just a Perceived Threat
Police officers can use deadly force if they have reason to believe that their life, or that of others, is in jeopardy. The problem is the framework for what determines a reasonable threat. This has been a source of debate for many years. What we are seeing frequently is police using deadly force if they “perceive” a threat, even if there is no legitimate threat. Inconsistencies in state and federal law make this an ongoing problem.
5. An Alarming Number of Police Officers Report Witnessing Excessive Use of Force Among Fellow Officers
A survey by the nonprofit organization Police Foundation reports that 84% of police officers have witnessed a fellow officer using more force than is necessary. 68% of officers report seeing fellow officers use physical force in response to verbal abuse.
6. Police are Almost Never Prosecuted and Convicted for Use of Force
Only 1% of police-involved killings result in the officer being arrested or indicted. Part of the reason why is because police officers have wide latitude when using force. Another problem is the conflict of interest when a police officer is being investigated by their peers. Generally, police officers have more credibility than civilians, which also creates bias and makes it difficult to prosecute and prove an officer is in the wrong.
From April 2009 to December 2010, only 33% of officers involved in killing civilians were convicted. Only 33% of those officers served prison time. Both of these percentages are roughly half the rates among civilians.
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