Disability Perception and Use of Force: Examining a Longitudinal Subset of LAPD RIPA Data

• In Event: Disability in Society Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 1. At the Nexus: The Sociology of Disability and Other Sociologies

Abstract

Previous literature on patterns of adverse interaction with law enforcement outline disabilities — among other stigmatized identity characteristics, including race, gender, and socioeconomic status — in contributing to the likelihood of experiencing use of force. Given the contentious legacy of the LAPD in this regard, and their stature as one of the largest police departments in the nation, this study utilizes newly available Racial Identity and Profiling Act (RIPA) data to investigate associations between perceived disabilities and use of force among those stopped by the LAPD. Findings suggest a particularly salient association between perceived or known mental health condition and the use of force by officers. These reiterate conclusions drawn from other research that underscore the relationship between mental health crises and the escalation of interactions with officers, reifying the need for more effective crisis intervention and de-escalation strategies in responding to community mental health concerns. The recent addition of a welfare check variable to data collection forms allows for a more nuanced analysis of stops that serve such a community caretaking function, raising further questions about what officers choose to report and how mandatorily reported police data can be utilized to reform the societal function of policing.

Author

• Sophia Davis Castillo, UC Irvine