Fatal Force: An Analysis of Police Interactions with the Mentally Ill

• In Event: Substance-Use and Mental Health

Abstract

Police interactions with the mentally ill and police use of firearms resulting in fatalities have garnered much attention as of late. When combined, these circumstances create a unique situation for officers, one that officers may be ill-equipped to deal with. While there have been calls for more effective training and even alternative solutions to police interactions with the mentally ill, research examining police related fatalities of this populations is limited. Utilizing data collected from the Washington Post’s Fatal Force database, this study aims to identify the factors associated with law-enforcement-related shooting deaths of those with potential diagnoses or histories of mental illness, and whether these factors differ between individuals with and without mental-illness. Findings and policy implications will be discussed.

Authors

• Quinn Gordon, The University of Texas at Dallas

• Jessica Corey, The University of Texas at Dallas