Race, Suspect Resistance, and Police Use of Force: A Test of Interaction Effects

• In Event: NIJ Project on Police Use of Force Polices and Outcomes: Getting Bang for the Buck

Abstract

Perennial conflict between police and black citizens has led to calls for greater representation of black officers on departments nationwide, yet the presumption that black officers deliver better treatment to—and garner more positive reactions from—black citizens has not received sufficient empirical testing. Existing research largely concentrates on attitudes, with relatively little attention to behavioral exchanges between officers and citizens. The present study focuses on the use-of-force incident, given the important symbolism inherent in this type of encounter. Drawing from prior empirical work and deference exchange theory, this study examines interaction effects between officer and suspect race in predicting suspect resistance and police use of force. Findings show that officer race does not impact resistance by either white or black suspects. Force models reveal that white officers are more coercive toward black suspects, but black officers’ force usage is unaffected by suspect race. These results are discussed in light of their implications for theory, police–black relations, and police practices.

Authors

• Jacinta M. Gau, University of Central Florida

• Eugene A. Paoline III, University of Central Florida

• William Terrill, Arizona State University