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How neighborhoods matter in fatal interactions between police and men of color

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  • Johnson, Odis
  • St. Vil, Christopher
  • Gilbert, Keon L.
  • Goodman, Melody
  • Johnson, Cassandra Arroyo

Abstract

This article addresses the concern that death by legal intervention is a health outcome disproportionately experienced by boys and men of color, and predicated on the quality of the locations in which encounters with law enforcement occur. Using a more comprehensive cross-verified sample of police homicides from online databases and a nationally representative sample of law enforcement agencies, this study examines whether neighborhood social disorganization, minority threat, and defense of inequality theories help explain the odds that males of color will have a fatal interaction with police (FIP). There are several noteworthy results. First, in support of the defense of inequality thesis, we found that income inequality within the area in which a FIP occurred is related to increased relative odds of fatal injury for males of color and Hispanic males. Second, consistent with the minority threat thesis, we found low levels of racial segregation dramatically reduced the odds of a FIP for Black males while higher levels of segregation increased the odds for Hispanic males. Third, Hispanic males were over 2.6 times as likely as others to be killed by officers from agencies with relatively higher percentages of Hispanic officers. We conclude the study with a discussion of its implications for research and policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Johnson, Odis & St. Vil, Christopher & Gilbert, Keon L. & Goodman, Melody & Johnson, Cassandra Arroyo, 2019. "How neighborhoods matter in fatal interactions between police and men of color," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 226-235.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:220:y:2019:i:c:p:226-235
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.11.024
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sewell, Abigail A. & Jefferson, Kevin A. & Lee, Hedwig, 2016. "Living under surveillance: Gender, psychological distress, and stop-question-and-frisk policing in New York City," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 1-13.
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    2. Koslicki, Wendy M. & Lytle, Daniel J. & Willits, Dale W. & Brooks, Rachael, 2021. "‘Rhetoric without reality’ or effective policing strategy? An analysis of the relationship between community policing and police fatal force," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    3. Zimmerman, Gregory M. & Fridel, Emma E. & Sheppard, Keller G. & Lawshe, Nathaniel L., 2021. "Contextualizing fatal police-resident encounters with a focus on Hispanic or Latin American Places: Does macro-level racial and ethnic composition distinguish resident fatalities by the police and pol," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    4. Reid, Allecia E. & Earnshaw, Valerie A., 2023. "Embracing heterogeneity: Implications for research on stigma, discrimination, and African Americans’ health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    5. Raj, Anita & Chatterji, Sangeeta & Johns, Nicole E. & Yore, Jennifer & Dey, Arnab K. & Williams, David R., 2023. "The associations of everyday and major discrimination exposure with violence and poor mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 318(C).

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