The Impact of Racial Bias on Police Interactions and Use of Force

TLDR Black people in the US are more likely to be killed, stopped, and searched by police compared to white people, even when controlling for crime rates. Implicit bias training and implementing de-escalation policies have shown promise in reducing racial bias and police use of force incidents.

Timestamped Summary

00:00 About 1,000 people in the US are killed by police each year, with roughly half of those not having a gun, and black people being two to three times more likely to be killed by police than white people.
04:20 Black people are more likely to be stopped and searched by police, even when controlling for crime rates, and are treated with less respect during these interactions compared to white people, as shown by a study analyzing police stops and bodycam footage.
08:23 Black drivers are treated with less respect by police officers compared to white drivers, as shown by data analysis and machine learning algorithms, indicating a potential unconscious or implicit bias.
12:28 Implicit bias training is being implemented in police departments across the country to address the issue of racial bias, with the goal of reducing unnecessary force and racially disparate contact.
16:02 Implicit bias training can reduce people's bias, but the effects may not last long and there is hardly any research on whether these trainings can change police behavior or reduce use of force.
20:09 Body cameras have not been shown to have a significant effect on reducing police use of force or shootings, but they may be useful in specific circumstances to provide an accurate account of what happened.
24:47 Police officers' reactions in high-stress situations, such as shootings, can be fear-based and driven by instinct rather than rational thinking, which may explain some instances of police killing unarmed individuals; to prevent unnecessary force, it may be more effective to focus on implementing policies and rules that prevent officers from getting into these situations in the first place.
28:52 Implementing de-escalation policies and trainings, such as slowing down foot pursuits and calmly talking to suspects, has been shown to significantly reduce police use of force incidents, including in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Seattle, and New Orleans.
32:29 Making clear rules and policies that tell cops when they should and shouldn't use force, and encouraging them to de-escalate situations, is emerging as a breakthrough in reducing police shootings.

The Impact of Racial Bias on Police Interactions and Use of Force

Police Shootings: The Data and the Damage Done
by Science Vs

Browse more Science