Aldina Mesic1, Lydia Franklin1, Alev Cansever1, Fiona Potter1, Anika Sharma1, Anita Knopov2, Michael Siegel1. 1. Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston MA 02118, USA. 2. Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston MA 02118, USA. Electronic address: aknopov@bu.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to discern the relationship between state-level structural racism and Black-White disparities in police shootings of victims not known to be armed. METHODS: Using a Poisson regression, we evaluated the effect of structural racism on differences between states in Black-White disparities in fatal police shootings involving victims not known to be armed during the period from January 1, 2013 through June 30, 2017. We created a state racism index, which was comprised of five dimensions: (1) residential segregation; and gaps in (2) incarceration rates; (3) educational attainment; (4) economic indicators; and (5) employment status. RESULTS: After controlling for numerous state-level factors and for the underlying rate of fatal shootings of black victims in each state, the state racism index was a significant predictor of the Black-White disparity in police shooting rates of victims not known to be armed (incidence rate ratio: 1.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.50). For every 10-point increase in the state racism index, the Black-White disparity ratio of police shooting rates of people not known to be armed increased by 24%. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that structural racism is an important predictor of the Black-White disparity in rates of police shootings of unarmed victims across states.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to discern the relationship between state-level structural racism and Black-White disparities in police shootings of victims not known to be armed. METHODS: Using a Poisson regression, we evaluated the effect of structural racism on differences between states in Black-White disparities in fatal police shootings involving victims not known to be armed during the period from January 1, 2013 through June 30, 2017. We created a state racism index, which was comprised of five dimensions: (1) residential segregation; and gaps in (2) incarceration rates; (3) educational attainment; (4) economic indicators; and (5) employment status. RESULTS: After controlling for numerous state-level factors and for the underlying rate of fatal shootings of black victims in each state, the state racism index was a significant predictor of the Black-White disparity in police shooting rates of victims not known to be armed (incidence rate ratio: 1.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.50). For every 10-point increase in the state racism index, the Black-White disparity ratio of police shooting rates of people not known to be armed increased by 24%. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that structural racism is an important predictor of the Black-White disparity in rates of police shootings of unarmed victims across states.
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