Police Use of force and Misconduct in California

State Reforms and Transparency in Policing

• Growing concern over civilian deaths, particularly among Black individuals, during interactions with law enforcement has driven momentum for reform.

• California has enacted legislation mandating detailed reporting of police encounters and use-of-force incidents to enhance transparency and accountability.

• It is important to understand what existing data reveals and conceals concerning these critical issues.

Legal Use of Force

• Officers are legally permitted to use force when necessary for arrests and to protect themselves and others due to the inherent risks of law enforcement.

• Most use-of-force incidents do not constitute misconduct.

• However, civilian fatalities and injuries, especially those involving unarmed individuals, can erode public trust in law enforcement.

Data on Fatal Interactions

• Approximately 195 individuals die each year from interactions with California law enforcement.

• California Department of Justice data captures most fatalities, with vehicle-related deaths being a notable exception.

• Gunshots are the leading cause of death, with nearly 250 people shot by police annually.

• Officers often respond to high-risk situations with greater force. Around 80\% of incidents leading to civilian deaths or gunshot wounds involve armed individuals.

• In incidents resulting in serious injury, more than half (56\%) involve unarmed civilians.

• 15\% of these encounters occur during vehicle and pedestrian stops, which are often considered lower-risk interactions.

• Fatalities of unarmed civilians occur about half as often as fatalities of armed civilians during police encounters.

Behavioral Health Issues

• Behavioral health issues are commonly observed in individuals involved in police encounters.

• Over four in ten individuals treated for non-fatal gunshot wounds from police encounters had a diagnosed mental health condition, a drug- or alcohol-use disorder, or both.

• Methamphetamines are the most frequently detected drug, and schizophrenia is the most frequently recorded mental health condition.

Racial Disparities in Police Use of Force

• Public protests have emphasized racial inequities and the disproportionate impact on Black communities.

• Black Californians are three times more likely to be seriously injured, shot, or killed by police, comprising 18\% of these incidents, while only representing 6\% of the population.

• Latinos are also overrepresented in police encounters resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.

• Analysis of police stops reveals persistent disparities in police use of force against Black Californians.

• Adjusting for factors like the reason for the stop and whether the civilian was armed reduces but does not eliminate this disparity.

• Latinos, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans and multiracial Californians experience disparities in specific types of police use of force, such as when an officer uses a weapon.

Data on Arrests and Police Misconduct

• Misconduct includes any incident outside the officer code of conduct and may not involve use of force, such as obstructing justice or engaging in illegal acts.

• Current data on misconduct is limited, but a national database on arrested officers offers insights.

• Approximately 80 California law enforcement officers are arrested each year out of over 78,000 officers.

• Assault is the most frequent reason for arrest, followed by driving under the influence, rape, and fondling.

• Nearly 40\% of arrests are for alleged offenses committed while the officer was on duty.

• Arrests data do not represent the full scope of misconduct cases.

Recommendations for Improvement

• Improve existing data by including all instances where an officer’s actions result in serious bodily injury or death, including car accidents or pursuits.

• Conduct routine audits, including comparisons with other data resources, to improve data quality.

• Develop a public database on misconduct using existing data on officer arrests as a framework for structuring a detailed, de-identified database.

• Evaluate effects of recent policy changes to reduce civilian fatalities and injuries, maintain public and officer safety, and address inequities.

• Critical study areas include training related to new deadly force standards, initiatives to reduce law enforcement involvement in traffic violations, and pilot programs deploying social workers in mental health crises.