Cited by 71Policing Practices and PerceptionsCriminal Justice and Corrections AnalysisRacial and Ethnic Identity Research

Systemic Racism in Police Killings: New Evidence From the Mapping Police Violence Database, 2013–2021

Open access
DeAngelis, Reed T.·2024·Race and Justice

Abstract

This research note provides new evidence consistent with systemic anti-Black racism in police killings across the United States. Data come from the Mapping Police Violence Database (2013-2021). I calculate race-specific odds and probabilities that victims of police killings exhibited mental illness, were armed with a weapon, or attempted to flee the scene at the time of their killing. Multilevel, multivariable logistic regression techniques are applied to further account for the victim's age, gender, year of killing, and geographical clustering. I find that White victims are underrepresented, and Black victims overrepresented in the database. Relative to White victims, Black victims also have 60% lower odds of exhibiting signs of mental illness, 23% lower odds of being armed, and 28% higher odds of fleeing. Hispanic victims exhibit 45% lower odds of being armed relative to their White peers but are otherwise comparable. These patterns persist regardless of the victim's age, gender, year of killing, or geographical location (zip code, state, and neighborhood type). Thus, the threshold for being perceived as dangerous, and thereby falling victim to lethal police force, appears to be higher for White civilians relative to their Black or Hispanic peers. Current findings provide empirical support for political initiatives to curb lethal police force, as such efforts could help to reduce racial disparities in deaths by police nationwide.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1177/21533687211047943

Cites

17 of 17 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 5 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    Hispanic and Black victims do not differ significantly in the odds of being armed.

    “but similar odds of being armed (not shown)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The MPVD accurately records the race and pre-killing behaviors (mental illness, armed, fleeing) of victims.
    • Rests on an assumption: The MPVD is a representative and sufficiently complete record of police killings in the US for the study period.
    • Rests on an assumption: The behaviors (exhibiting mental illness, being armed, fleeing) are valid proxies for the threat perceived by police officers at the time of the killing.
  • Findingown data

    Compared with White victims, Black victims have 28% greater odds of fleeing the scene (OR = 1.279, p < .01).

    “28% greater odds of fleeing the scene (OR = 1.279; p < .01)”
    • Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
      “28% higher odds of fleeing”
    • Also stated in: § Conclusion · plain
      “more likely to flee the scene”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The MPVD accurately records the race and pre-killing behaviors (mental illness, armed, fleeing) of victims.
    • Rests on an assumption: The MPVD is a representative and sufficiently complete record of police killings in the US for the study period.
    • Rests on an assumption: The behaviors (exhibiting mental illness, being armed, fleeing) are valid proxies for the threat perceived by police officers at the time of the killing.
  • Findingown data

    Hispanic victims do not differ significantly from White victims in the odds of being armed.

    “but otherwise are comparable”
    • Also stated in: § Conclusion · plain
      “no more or less likely to be armed or flee”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The MPVD accurately records the race and pre-killing behaviors (mental illness, armed, fleeing) of victims.
    • Rests on an assumption: The MPVD is a representative and sufficiently complete record of police killings in the US for the study period.
    • Rests on an assumption: The behaviors (exhibiting mental illness, being armed, fleeing) are valid proxies for the threat perceived by police officers at the time of the killing.
  • Findingown data

    Black victims appear more frequently in the Mapping Police Violence Database than their share of the US population would predict.

    “Thus, White victims are underrepresented, and Black victims overrepresented, in the MPVD dataset.”
    • Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
      “I find that White victims are underrepresented, and Black victims overrepresented in the database.”
    • Also stated in: § Conclusion · plain
      “Black victims of police killings were overrepresented, and their White peers underrepresented, relative to the general US population.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites US Census Bureau, 2021

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • Rests on an assumption: The MPVD is a representative and sufficiently complete record of police killings in the US for the study period.
    • Rests on an assumption: The 2020 US Census race distribution is an appropriate comparison for the 2013–2021 police killing data.
  • Findingown data

    Compared with White victims, Black victims have 60% lower odds of showing signs of mental illness (OR = .402, p < .001).

    “Relative to their White peers, Black victims have 60% lower odds of exhibiting mental illness (OR = .402; p < .001)”
    • Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
      “Black victims also have 60% lower odds of exhibiting signs of mental illness”
    • Also stated in: § Conclusion · plain
      “Black victims were less likely than their White peers to exhibit signs of mental illness”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The MPVD accurately records the race and pre-killing behaviors (mental illness, armed, fleeing) of victims.
    • Rests on an assumption: The MPVD is a representative and sufficiently complete record of police killings in the US for the study period.
    • Rests on an assumption: The behaviors (exhibiting mental illness, being armed, fleeing) are valid proxies for the threat perceived by police officers at the time of the killing.
  • May combine two claims. 8
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 4
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The average predicted probability of fleeing the scene is 33% for Black victims, 29% for Hispanic victims, and 28% for White victims.

    “Figure 3 shows that Black victims have the highest average probability of fleeing the scene at 33%, followed by Hispanic (29%) and White (28%) victims.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The MPVD is a representative and sufficiently complete record of police killings in the US for the study period.
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The average predicted probability of exhibiting mental illness is 32% for White victims, 16% for Black victims, and 21% for Hispanic victims.

    “Figure 1 shows that White victims have a 32% predicted probability of exhibiting mental illness, while Black and Hispanic victims have respective probabilities of 16% and 21%.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The MPVD is a representative and sufficiently complete record of police killings in the US for the study period.
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The average predicted probability of being armed is 80% for White victims, 77% for Black victims, and 78% for Hispanic victims.

    “In Figure 2, White victims have an 80% predicted probability of being armed, while Black and Hispanic victims have respective probabilities of 77% and 78%.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The MPVD is a representative and sufficiently complete record of police killings in the US for the study period.
  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Older victim age predicts greater odds of exhibiting mental illness (OR = 1.017, p < .001).

    “Older age predicts greater odds of exhibiting mental illness (OR = 1.017) and being armed at the scene (OR = 1.014), but lower odds of fleeing the scene (OR = .966).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The MPVD is a representative and sufficiently complete record of police killings in the US for the study period.
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The 2020 US Census estimates the US population as 62% White, 12% Black, and 19% Hispanic.

    “According to estimates from the 2020 US Census, 62% of the United States population is White, 12% is Black, and 19% is Hispanic (US Census Bureau, 2021).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites US Census Bureau, 2021

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    The MPVD documents fatal encounters from 2013 to 2021 caused by shooting, chokehold, baton, taser, or other means, involving on- and off-duty police officers.

    “Documented fatal encounters include deaths by shooting, chokehold, baton, taser, or other means by on- and off-duty police officers between 2013 and 2021.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sinyangwe et al., 2021

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The Mapping Police Violence Database is among the most comprehensive databases of police killing victims in the United States.

    “The MPVD currently represents one of the most comprehensive databases of police killing victims in the United States (Sinyangwe et al., 2021)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sinyangwe et al., 2021

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The study's findings support political efforts to reduce lethal police force, and such efforts could help lower racial disparities in police killings across the country.

    “Current findings provide empirical support for political initiatives to curb lethal police force, as such efforts could help to reduce racial disparities in deaths by police nationwide.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Racial disparities in these behaviors and representation reflect racial bias in police use of lethal force rather than other unmeasured factors.
  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The study's data covered all 50 states, Washington, D.C., more than 4,000 five-digit zip codes, and suburban, urban, and rural areas.

    “Data in this study encompassed all 50 states and the Washington, D.C. area, over 4,000 five-digit zip codes, and a mix of suburban, urban, and rural areas.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Efforts to reduce lethal police force could help address racial disparities in police killings and may also reduce broader health disparities.

    “Policymakers will also benefit from knowing that political initiatives aimed at curbing the use of lethal police force could help to address racial disparities in deaths by police, and may even help to mitigate broader health disparities in the United States.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Racial disparities in these behaviors and representation reflect racial bias in police use of lethal force rather than other unmeasured factors.
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Addressing systemic racism in policing might reduce chronic stress and improve health among Black men.

    “This study suggests that redressing systemic racism in policing could conceivably reduce chronic stress burdens and improve health among Black men, who are still disproportionately targeted by police nationwide.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Racial disparities in these behaviors and representation reflect racial bias in police use of lethal force rather than other unmeasured factors.
11 of 11
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The MPVD accurately records the race and pre-killing behaviors (mental illness, armed, fleeing) of victims.

    “The database also includes information about the victim’s race, age, gender, geographic location, and behaviors leading up to their fatal police encounter.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The MPVD is a representative and sufficiently complete record of police killings in the US for the study period.

    “The MPVD currently represents one of the most comprehensive databases of police killing victims in the United States (Sinyangwe et al., 2021)”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The 2020 US Census race distribution is an appropriate comparison for the 2013–2021 police killing data.

    “According to estimates from the 2020 US Census, 62% of the United States population is White, 12% is Black, and 19% is Hispanic (US Census Bureau, 2021).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The behaviors (exhibiting mental illness, being armed, fleeing) are valid proxies for the threat perceived by police officers at the time of the killing.

    “Thus, the threshold for being perceived as dangerous, and thereby falling victim to lethal police force, appears to be higher for White civilians relative to their Black or Hispanic peers.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Racial disparities in these behaviors and representation reflect racial bias in police use of lethal force rather than other unmeasured factors.

    “This study provides rigorous and compelling evidence of systemic racism in police killings across the United States.”
5 of 5

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Black victims' armed-odds reduction differs between sections

    Minor

    The abstract reports 23% lower odds of being armed for Black victims relative to White victims, while the results report 17% lower odds. The reported odds ratio of .826 supports the results figure, not the abstract figure.

  • Hispanic disparity is assigned to the wrong outcome in the abstract

    Minor

    The abstract says Hispanic victims have 45% lower odds of being armed and are otherwise comparable to White victims. The results instead assign the 45% reduction to signs of mental illness and say their odds of being armed are comparable.

  • Thomas citation year differs from its reference entry

    Minor

    The in-text citation gives 2021, but the corresponding reference entry gives 2020.

3 of 3

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

1 of the 18 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Fagan J. A., 2020, Boston University Law Review, 100, 951
  2. Gruber A., 2021, Houston Law Review, 58, 867

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
DeAngelis, R. T.
Affiliations
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
Corresponding author
DeAngelis, Reed T.
Venue
Race and Justice
Published
2021-10-19
Volume
14
Issue
3
Pages
413-422
ISSN
2153-3687 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3205106466
Cited by
71
References
18
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 5
FWCI
26.60
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Race and Justice (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) (submittedVersion)
  • UNC Libraries
Funders
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P2C-HD050924, T32-HD091058)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Policing Practices and Perceptions
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
Keywords
systemic racism, police killings, anti-Black racism, Black victims, mental illness

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