A Black person is killed by police approximately every 40 hours in the United States. Black individuals are disproportionately impacted by fatal police violence—even when unarmed—and communities of color face the spillover effects of over policing, including worsened physical and mental health.
This research seeks to understand the current and emerging policy landscape that addresses racial health disparities in policing. Through case studies in St. Louis, MO and Baltimore, MD, the research team will document local policy changes, analyze policing behaviors, and assess their connections to social, economic, and health outcomes. The case studies will document policy changes and engage stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, and the broader public, to provide context for shifts in policing policies and their effects on community health, well-being, and individual-level mental health.
The research will assess the on-the-ground, community-level impacts of police reforms aligned with the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The project centers on a community-based participatory research approach, informed by Public Health Critical Race Praxis.
The project will focus on reforms aligned with the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and will include interviews with key stakeholders such as city officials, community leaders, and law enforcement.
The goal is to provide evidence-based guidance on how effective police reform can reduce racial health disparities and foster safer, healthier communities.