Menu Close

Articles on US police

Displaying 1 - 20 of 84 articles

Dwindling numbers means more inexperienced officers. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Memphis police numbers dropped by nearly a quarter in recent years – were staffing shortages a factor in the killing of Tyre Nichols?

Police departments have faced recruitment and retention problems since the 2020 George Floyd protests. It has meant some agencies have had to lower standards to attract new officers.
The fatal beating of Tyre Nichols started after he was pulled over by cops. City of Memphis via AP

Police traffic stops can alienate communities and lead to violent deaths like Tyre Nichols’ – is it time to rethink them?

The case of Tyre Nichols highlights how traffic stops can turn deadly. Traffic stops are also prone to racial bias, can break down community trust in police and yield few results, research shows.
Participants in ‘violence prevention’ programs seek to deescalate conflicts before they turn deadly. Andre Chung for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Reducing gun violence: A complicated problem can’t be solved with just one approach, so Indianapolis is trying programs ranging from job skills to therapy to violence interrupters to find out what works

A burst of federal funding is letting Indianapolis expand existing efforts and try promising new approaches that other cities have developed.
Another door closes on federal police reform. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Federal police reform talks have failed – but local efforts stand a better chance of success

Months of bipartisan talks in Congress aimed at reaching consensus over policing reforms have ended with no agreement. Two policing scholars argue that federal efforts are better placed focusing on supporting local measures.
Police see some difficult scenes; body cameras can record those and make them public. Tony Webster via Flickr

Body cameras help monitor police but can invade people’s privacy

Police body cameras have the potential to make private details about people’s lives, including some of the most stressful experiences of their lives, public and easily accessible online
Seattle police officers deploy pepper spray as they clash with protesters in Seattle, Washington, on July 25, 2020. Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images

Racial groups suffer disparate consequences after unfair police treatment – but not the groups you might think

New research confirms that unfair police treatment is psychologically damaging and that the consequences are decidedly worse for certain racial and ethnic groups.
Body camera footage shows a Virginia police officer pepper-spraying a Black U.S. Army officer during a traffic stop in December 2020. Windsor Police via AP

How qualified immunity protects police officers accused of wrongdoing

Police officers who kill, injure or violate the rights of citizens are often not held accountable, even in civil court – because in most cases, they can’t be sued for official acts.
Getting police and community on board with reforms is crucial for success. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

American cities have long struggled to reform their police – but isolated success stories suggest community and officer buy-in might be key

Attempts to reform US police departments fail when they are unable to get community support. Perhaps it is time to take a different tack, argue two criminal justice scholars – one a former cop.

Top contributors

More