University of Wisconsin–Madison

Preventing and Mitigating Police-Involved Violence

Type Policy Brief or Report
Year 2017
Level City or Town, County
State(s) All States
Policy Areas Civil Rights, Civil Rights, Democracy & Governance, Economic Justice, Housing, Public Safety, Public Safety
Alarming rates of police brutality and abuse of power persist across U.S. cities and states, with 987 people shot and killed by law enforcement officers in 2017 alone. Victims of police-involved violence are disproportionately people of color, and a quarter of victims struggle with mental illness. Despite the admirable sacrifices and contributions of law enforcement, incidents of police-involved violence destabilize and divide our communities and threaten our collective well-being. Research reveals concerning gaps in the capacity of police officers to interface with diverse communities, overcome implicit biases, and de-escalate tense situations. When officers responsible for violence against civilians are spared punishment or when investigations take place without transparency, injured communities are left without justice and mistrust deepens. Addressing this kind of violence requires a multipronged legislative approach that returns the power of oversight to the people, restores community justice, and equips police officers to safely serve diverse communities.

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