Black and (thin) blue (line): Corruption and other political determinants of police killings in America

Police violence is not uncommon in America, and the risk of civilians' being killed by police is considerably higher here than in similar countries, making it a major public health issue. For Black Americans the risk is significantly higher. In this study, we analyze the political determinants...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inGovernance (Oxford) Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 167 - 186
Main Authors Dincer, Oguzhan, Johnston, Michael
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.01.2023
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Subjects
Accountability
African Americans
Corruption
Police
Police brutality
Public health
Violence
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Summary:Police violence is not uncommon in America, and the risk of civilians' being killed by police is considerably higher here than in similar countries, making it a major public health issue. For Black Americans the risk is significantly higher. In this study, we analyze the political determinants of police killings of Black Americans, with a specific focus on corruption in American states. Our evidence suggests that police can kill Black Americans with impunity because of a lack of accountability—exemplified by corruption—that is largely determined by political influences. Our findings point to ways in which the responsibility for police violence and killings is deeply rooted and influenced by the values of the wider society.
ISSN:0952-1895
1468-0491
DOI:10.1111/gove.12652