I Fear for My Life: Difficult Conversations Between College Students and Police Officers Across the U.S.

• In Event: Enhancing Police Legitimacy and Procedural Justice in Black-American Communities

Abstract

Sponsored by the 400 Years of African American History Commission, the "I Fear for My Life" (IFFML) Initiative seeks to establish a national dialogue between college students attending HBCUs and police officers based on the common-ground theme of fear. Young adults though disproportionately impacted by negative encounters with police, are often not called upon to participate in community dialogues and reform efforts. The phrase “IFFML” speaks to the historical fear, trauma, and anxiety associated with community-police encounters among some Blacks and police. As the National Coordinator for Student-Law Enforcement Engagement for phase two of the “IFFML” project, in partnership with the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice, this research presents findings from survey and focus group data from students attending nine universities across the U.S. and four police focus groups collected across multiple agencies within the U.S. Each of the selected campuses identified student ambassadors who underwent community-police engagement training, participated in focus groups, and then facilitated a campus discussion between students and representatives from local police agencies. Initiative goals include documenting college students’ perceptions/experiences with police and officers’ perception/experiences as well as creating a national dialogue between both parties toward greater empathy and improved criminal justice outcomes.

Author

• Kideste M. Yusef, Bethune-Cookman University