Is Police Use of Force a Rare Occurrence?
Jim Kouri, CPP
July 14, 2006
Among the 45.3 million residents age 16 or older who had a contact with police in 2002, about 1.5% (664,500 persons) had a contact in which police used or threatened force against them.
The 1.5% in 2002 is greater than the percentage in 1999. In 1999, 1% (0.98%) of persons with contact experienced force or the threat of force. However, it continues to be a very low percentage of over all police contacts with civilians.
In 2002 the most common reason for police contact was driving a motor vehicle that was pulled over by police, accounting for almost 17 million contacts. Another 1.2 million persons had police contact as a passenger in a stopped vehicle.
Among those who had contact with police, blacks (3.5%) and Hispanics (2.5%) were more likely than whites (1.1%) to experience police threat or use of force during the contact. This may be attributed to the fact that black and Hispanic neighborhoods are locations that are more likely to have civilians confront police as a result of a high crime rate for blacks and Hispanics as compared to whites.
Force was used against 2.5% of 16-to-29 year olds who came into contact with police. The percentage was lower -- 0.9% -- for persons over age 29.
"Pushed" or "grabbed" by police was the type of force that characterized 42% of the 664,500 contacts in which force occurred. An additional 19% of the 664,500 force incidents involved police pointing a gun at the resident.
Of the 664,500 persons against whom force was used, almost 75% characterized the force as excessive, although most of those making such claims were subsequently convicted and incarcerated. About 14% of the 664,500 persons who experienced force were injured as a result of the police action. And about 24% of the 664,500 persons involved in a police force incident argued with, cursed at, insulted, or verbally threatened the officers during the incident.
An estimated 38% of the 664,500 persons involved in a force contact were arrested during the incident. About 87% of the 664,500 persons experiencing the threat or use of force felt the police acted improperly. Less than 20% of these persons took formal action, such as filing a complaint or lawsuit with authorities.
Force includes contacts in which the police officer pushed, grabbed, kicked, or hit the resident. Hitting was defined as striking with a hand or an object held in the officer's hand. Included in the definition of force were police dog bites, spray with pepper spray or a chemical, and a firearm pointed in the resident's direction. Also included was the threat to carry out any of these types of force.
The survey provided an opportunity for respondents to express their opinion as to whether any police force or threat of force used against them was "excessive." The survey did not define "excessive" for the respondent. Respondents who said they had experienced police use or threat of force were asked whether they felt any of the physical force used or threatened against them was excessive. If a respondent said the force was excessive, he or she was asked about the specific type of physical force considered excessive.
When an arrest occurs, the police do not always handcuff the suspect, and not all persons who are handcuffed are subsequently arrested. Handcuffs can be used to detain someone for a short time while police determine how to handle the situation. In 2002 about 1.3 million residents age 16 or older -- 2.9% of the 45.3 million persons with contact -- were arrested by police.
Similarly, just over 1.3 million residents were handcuffed during their contact with police.
During the 26.5 million contacts initiated by police, 4.3% of residents were placed under arrest. Less than 1% (0.8%) of residents were arrested during the 18.8 million contacts that were not police-initiated.
About 1 in 5 persons suspected of criminal wrongdoing were either handcuffed (21.3%) or arrested (22.1%) by police. Persons who contacted police to report a crime or other problem experienced handcuffing or an arrest less than 1% of the time.
Among all persons who had a police contact in 2002, 52.8% were male. However, among those who reported that they were threatened with force or against whom force was used, 78.3% were male. Persons age 16 to 29 were 33.6% of the estimated 45 million who had a police contact but 57.5% of those experiencing force during a contact. The median age of those experiencing force was 26.
Whites comprised 76.7% of all persons with a police contact, blacks 11%, and Hispanics 9.3%. About 56% of those experiencing force were white, 26% black, and 15.5% Hispanic.
About 14% of the approximately 664,500 persons involved in a force or threat-of-force incident were injured as a result of the police action.Twelve percent of whites, 21.5% of Hispanics, and 15.4% of blacks in force incidents were injured. These differences were not statistically significant.
Sources: US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics
The 1.5% in 2002 is greater than the percentage in 1999. In 1999, 1% (0.98%) of persons with contact experienced force or the threat of force. However, it continues to be a very low percentage of over all police contacts with civilians.
In 2002 the most common reason for police contact was driving a motor vehicle that was pulled over by police, accounting for almost 17 million contacts. Another 1.2 million persons had police contact as a passenger in a stopped vehicle.
Among those who had contact with police, blacks (3.5%) and Hispanics (2.5%) were more likely than whites (1.1%) to experience police threat or use of force during the contact. This may be attributed to the fact that black and Hispanic neighborhoods are locations that are more likely to have civilians confront police as a result of a high crime rate for blacks and Hispanics as compared to whites.
Force was used against 2.5% of 16-to-29 year olds who came into contact with police. The percentage was lower -- 0.9% -- for persons over age 29.
"Pushed" or "grabbed" by police was the type of force that characterized 42% of the 664,500 contacts in which force occurred. An additional 19% of the 664,500 force incidents involved police pointing a gun at the resident.
Of the 664,500 persons against whom force was used, almost 75% characterized the force as excessive, although most of those making such claims were subsequently convicted and incarcerated. About 14% of the 664,500 persons who experienced force were injured as a result of the police action. And about 24% of the 664,500 persons involved in a police force incident argued with, cursed at, insulted, or verbally threatened the officers during the incident.
An estimated 38% of the 664,500 persons involved in a force contact were arrested during the incident. About 87% of the 664,500 persons experiencing the threat or use of force felt the police acted improperly. Less than 20% of these persons took formal action, such as filing a complaint or lawsuit with authorities.
Force includes contacts in which the police officer pushed, grabbed, kicked, or hit the resident. Hitting was defined as striking with a hand or an object held in the officer's hand. Included in the definition of force were police dog bites, spray with pepper spray or a chemical, and a firearm pointed in the resident's direction. Also included was the threat to carry out any of these types of force.
The survey provided an opportunity for respondents to express their opinion as to whether any police force or threat of force used against them was "excessive." The survey did not define "excessive" for the respondent. Respondents who said they had experienced police use or threat of force were asked whether they felt any of the physical force used or threatened against them was excessive. If a respondent said the force was excessive, he or she was asked about the specific type of physical force considered excessive.
When an arrest occurs, the police do not always handcuff the suspect, and not all persons who are handcuffed are subsequently arrested. Handcuffs can be used to detain someone for a short time while police determine how to handle the situation. In 2002 about 1.3 million residents age 16 or older -- 2.9% of the 45.3 million persons with contact -- were arrested by police.
Similarly, just over 1.3 million residents were handcuffed during their contact with police.
During the 26.5 million contacts initiated by police, 4.3% of residents were placed under arrest. Less than 1% (0.8%) of residents were arrested during the 18.8 million contacts that were not police-initiated.
About 1 in 5 persons suspected of criminal wrongdoing were either handcuffed (21.3%) or arrested (22.1%) by police. Persons who contacted police to report a crime or other problem experienced handcuffing or an arrest less than 1% of the time.
Among all persons who had a police contact in 2002, 52.8% were male. However, among those who reported that they were threatened with force or against whom force was used, 78.3% were male. Persons age 16 to 29 were 33.6% of the estimated 45 million who had a police contact but 57.5% of those experiencing force during a contact. The median age of those experiencing force was 26.
Whites comprised 76.7% of all persons with a police contact, blacks 11%, and Hispanics 9.3%. About 56% of those experiencing force were white, 26% black, and 15.5% Hispanic.
About 14% of the approximately 664,500 persons involved in a force or threat-of-force incident were injured as a result of the police action.Twelve percent of whites, 21.5% of Hispanics, and 15.4% of blacks in force incidents were injured. These differences were not statistically significant.
Sources: US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics
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