A new analysis has revealed that police in the United States use force on at least 300,000 individuals annually, injuring an estimated 100,000, according to a comprehensive report by Mapping Police Violence. The non-profit research group, known for tracking police killings, has launched a new database, policedata.org, detailing non-fatal encounters with law enforcement from 2017 through 2022.
The database, compiled from public records requests across every state, provides a broad view of police use of force, including incidents involving stun guns, chemical sprays, K9 dog attacks, neck restraints, beanbags, and baton strikes. The report suggests that despite heightened awareness and protests against police brutality, notably after George Floyd's murder in 2020, the rate of police force has remained steady and, in some areas, increased.
The data, which covers 60% of the US population from over 2,800 agencies, indicates that the annual rate of police force incidents aligns with past research. A survey by the US Bureau of Justice Statistics previously estimated around 350,000 incidents each year, while a law enforcement consulting firm placed the figure at 400,000. The new analysis underscores that lethal police encounters are just a fraction of broader police violence.
Key findings from the report include:
High Use of Non-Lethal Force: In 2022, the most common forms of non-lethal force were stun guns, with over 20,000 deployments. Chemical sprays were used in more than 8,000 incidents, batons and beanbags in over 4,700 cases, and K9 dogs in over 2,100 instances.
Prevalence of Unarmed Individuals: Data from 31 agencies showed that 83% of those subjected to police force were unarmed. Additionally, fewer than 40% of use-of-force incidents involved reports of violence or violent crime charges.
Racial Disparities: Black individuals experienced police use of force at a rate 3.2 times greater than white individuals in 2022. This disparity is even more pronounced compared to lethal force statistics, where Black people were killed at 2.6 times the rate of white people.
Impact on Unhoused Individuals: Among agencies that disclosed housing status, 11 to 44% of those subjected to force were reported as unhoused.
Increased Use of Force Post-2020: Approximately half of the agencies reported increases in the use of force since 2020. Agencies with increased budgets and those with higher arrest rates for minor offenses saw more frequent use of force.
The analysis also found some progress in specific areas. For example, the use of neck restraints dropped nearly 90% from 973 cases in 2019 to 112 in 2021, following policy changes. Furthermore, jurisdictions with Department of Justice reform agreements reported a 22% reduction in overall use of force.
Despite these improvements, the report's author, Samuel Sinyangwe, emphasized that these changes have not significantly altered the broader pattern of police violence. He called for more comprehensive reforms, including alternative responder programs and increased scrutiny of police practices.
Salimah Hankins of the United Nations Antiracism Coalition highlighted the need for accountability and suggested that political incentives often reinforce the status quo. "Without real accountability, there's little incentive for change," she said. "We're in a cycle where political expedience often overshadows the need for genuine reform."
The data, while revealing significant issues, also points to potential areas for improvement. Sinyangwe hopes the new database will help policymakers and advocates identify where reforms are urgently needed to create safer communities.
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