Police violence and mental health: the uncharted empirical inquiry of a long-standing societal problem

Police violence is a prominent public health issue in the 21st century, although empirical research on this topic has been limited. This chapter explores the impact of police violence exposure on the psychological wellbeing of people of diverse gender, racial, ethnic, and sexual identities across the United States. We begin with a historical overview of the development of modern policing in the United States and its sanctioned use of violence against citizens as described in literature dating back to the 19th century. We then transition to contemporary perspectives on police violence and the influence that recent police-perpetrated violence and fatalities have had in inspiring public protests, challenges, and debates across the nation. Last, we present the results of a national study that investigated the mental health correlates of assaultive police violence in a diverse sample of U.S. residents. Implications and considerations for the future are discussed.