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BMC Psychiatry

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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research

Measuring disparities in police use of force and injury among persons with serious mental illness

Authors: Ayobami Laniyonu, Phillip Atiba Goff

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Objectives

To measure disparities in experience of police use of force and injury among persons with serious mental illnesses.

Methods

We gathered novel police use of force and suspect injury data from 2011 to 2017 from a nonrandom sample of nine police departments in the United States and used synthetic methods to estimate the share of the local population with serious mental illness. We estimate disparities using multi-level models estimated in a Bayesian framework.

Results

Persons with serious mental illness constitute 17.0% of use of force cases (SD = 5.8) and 20.2% of suspects injured in police interaction (SD = 9.0) in sample cities. The risk that persons with serious mental illness will experience police use of force is 11.6 times higher (95% CI, 10.7–12.6) than persons without serious mental illness. Persons with serious mental illness are also at a higher risk of experiencing injury, 10.7 times (95% CI, 9.6–11.8), relative to persons without serious mental illness. These relative risk ratios are several times larger than racial and ethnic disparities estimated in the same cities.

Conclusion

Persons with serious mental are at a significantly elevated risk of experiencing police use of force and injury in police encounters than the general public. The disparities we estimate are several times higher than racial/ethnic disparities in force and injury. Efforts to reform police practices and reimagine public safety in the United States should address significant disparities in police use of force against those with serious mental illness.

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Title: Measuring disparities in police use of force and injury among persons with serious mental illness
Authors: Ayobami Laniyonu
Phillip Atiba Goff
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03510-w

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Measuring disparities in police use of force and injury among persons with serious mental illness

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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