Statistics

1. Police Use of Force by Race:

   • From 2018 to 2020, the share of Black Americans who experienced threats and nonfatal use of physical force during police contact increased. Rates rose from 3.8% to 4.3% for Black Americans.

   • Multiracial, Native, or Pacific Islander Americans also saw an increase in threats and nonfatal use of force, from 2.5% to 2.7%.

   • Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans experienced a decrease in these rates, while white Americans remained at 1.5%1.

2. Specific Incidents:

   • In 2018, Black Americans had the highest rates of:

   • Handcuffing (4.4%)

   • Threats of force (2%)

   • Cursing (1.7%)

   • Pushing, grabbing, hitting, or kicking (1.6%) in cases when police initiated contact or the interaction was related to a car accident.

   • Black Americans were slightly more likely than Hispanic Americans to have a weapon used on them by police (0.9% vs. 0.8%).

   • Hispanic Americans had the highest rate of being shouted at by police1.

3. Data Collection and Release:

   • The Police-Public Contact Survey collected data in 2018 and 2020, but the report analyzing the data was released in November 2022.

   • Note that the 2020 survey captured interactions during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns and the George Floyd protests1.

4. Mental Health and Use of Force:

   • Research has shown that police brutality contributes to fatal injuries, poor physical health symptoms, stress, financial strain, and oppressive practices affecting Black Americans2.

   • A study found that individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMIs) are significantly more likely to experience police use of force and injury3.

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1. Recent Data:

Year Total Deaths in Police Custody

2014 1,140

2015 1,146

2016 1,091

2017 1,147

2018 1,095

2019 1,042

2020 1,021

2021 1,012

2022 1,005 (estimated)

2023 998 (projected)

1. • In recent years, the Washington Post reported that African Americans are 2.5 times as likely as white Americans to be shot and killed by police officers2.

   • In 2021, at least 200 Black people were killed by police officers across the U.S., accounting for a significant portion of the total number of fatal encounters with police3.

   • Mapping Police Violence, a nonprofit organization that tracks police shootings, found that in 2021, Black people accounted for 27% of those fatally shot and killed by police, even though they make up only 13% of the U.S. population4.

2. Ongoing Challenges:

   • The struggle for justice, transparency, and accountability continues. Advocacy, policy reforms, and community engagement are essential to address systemic issues and prevent further loss of life.

Remember that each of these lives represents a story, a family, and a community impacted by tragedy. 🕊️