Police Related Deaths in the United States examines how police related deaths in the US occur; how investigations are conducted into these deaths; and why such deaths and the investigatory processes into them provoke such concern in the wider American society. The book considers such deaths as being the result of structural and systemic factors in policing, the criminal justice system, and broader socio-political and socio-legal landscapes in the U.S.. It argues that an increasingly aggressive police mindset allied with relatively toothless regulatory frameworks effectively lead to police being enabled by the criminal justice system to use lethal force with relative impunity. The book considers the disproportionate number of deaths in marginalized communities, for example: people of color, people who are mentally unwell, and LGBTQ people. Each chapter in the book begins with a case study of a specific police related death and places issues within that case in the wider context of policing in the US. David Baker argues that the effects of these deaths go beyond merely policing and criminal justice, and corrodes the core fabric of American society.
Dr. David Baker is lecturer in the department of sociology, social policy and criminology at the University of Liverpool, UK.
Chapter 1: 'Comply or Die' Chapter 2: Suspect Populations Chapter 3: They Musta Done Somethin' Chapter 4: Move On, Nothing to See Here Chapter 5: Blue Codes and Bad Apples Chapter 6: Walk in My Shoes Chapter 7: Business as Usual?
Police-Related Deaths in the United States is a thought-provoking read that makes an important contribution towards challenging the lack of visibility which dominates this area. The approach of engaging directly with bereaved families assists in providing a welcome humanization of the deceased and valuing the voices of these families. In addition, the book occupies an important role in recognizing the prominent issues surrounding the various constructs, structures and systems that can be challenged in order to assist in a much-required move beyond the individ ualization of these deaths. * British Journal of Criminology * There is a lot of information and discussion about this topic from all sides of the political spectrum, and it can be hard for even a committed follower of these issues to parse out the important arguments, nuance and details. Baker's book does that with great perspicacity. It is a must-read for anyone interested, however peripherally, in policing in the US and beyond. * International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy * Any reasonable person can conclude that some needless police killings have occurred, such as those of Mike Brown, George Floyd, Eric Garner, and 13-year-old Adam Toledo. Are these incidents outliers, rare and regrettable exceptions to established police procedures? After studying police-related deaths in England and Wales, Baker turns his research to police-related mortality in the US. The author investigates an overlooked audience for insights: families of the decedents. Baker's important book argues that every police-related death deserves the same forensic scrutiny as a typical homicide in which police are not involved as actors. Expanded use of body-worn and dashboard cameras, closer scrutiny of violence-prone officers, and training on responses to vulnerable groups are proposed as police management strategies. Between 2005 and 2017, an estimated 13,000 police-related deaths occurred. Few police officers were disciplined or prosecuted for these deaths, even though many victims were shot in the back, and about one-third of them had mental health issues. Certainly, police officers sometimes face life-or-death decisions and must protect themselves. However, officer trainees spend an average of 111 hours on guns and self-defense and only 9 on mediation/conflict resolution. Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty; professionals. * Choice Reviews * David Baker's 154-page book attempts to explain why police shootings are on the rise, and whether race is a pertinent construct in these police related deaths. Police Related Deaths in the United States is the result of field-based research funded by a Fulbright scholarship. In eras gone bye, many times a shooting death of an individual was played out in the newspapers by journalists, seeking to grab headlines, and vilifying the shooting victim. However, over the years, with the existence of cell phone cameras and so on, and federal agencies investigating state and city agencies, conclusions cannot be reached as quickly as was once the case. * Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books * This is an important book and a "must-read" for students of policing, race, politics, law, and criminal justice in the US and beyond. * Policing & Society * David Baker's rich qualitative analysis deeply provokes any reader interested in the intersections of policing and justice, governance and equality. The voices of surviving family members find full expression in this path-breaking volume. -- Bruce A. Arrigo, University of North Carolina at Charlotte An authoritative and extremely well researched volume that asks some questions about which we should all be concerned. There is a compelling and yet well balanced debate throughout the book that draws upon individual tragedies to highlight the structural issues of violence, poverty, race and inequalities. One of its central themes, the accountability of the police and their occupational culture, is set against some of the powerfully evocative accounts of the loved ones of the people the author interviewed in the aftermath of their loss, and subsequent fight for justice. -- Louise Westmarland, The Open University Using powerful vignettes that explore the lived experiences of those whose loved ones have died at the end of a police officer's gun, Baker argues that 'more people need to ask more questions' about police related deaths in the US. Baker's work dispels a number of myths around what we think we know about these all too frequent occurrences. -- Jenny Fleming, University of Southampton
