The Unintended Consequences of Police Shootings on Intimate Partner Homicide and Suicide
Given the historical backdrop of racism in the United States, police brutality often prompts a collective response as these incidents are interpreted within the context of the nation’s racist history and therefore have consequences that reach far beyond immediate victims. We aim to analyze IPV related homicides and suicides to assess the unintended consequences of police shootings. By quantifying the externalities that arise from these incidents, we hope to provide a more accurate picture of the human cost of police shootings. By examining the complexities created by a confluence of trauma, structural inequalities, and institutional racism, our research will elucidate how public events can bleed into private life and offer insight into the unique challenges and dilemmas faced by Black women in abusive relationships and abusive societies.
Abstract
Police shootings of civilians are often viewed as institutional failures and deteriorate police community relationships. Shootings of unarmed Black men, specifically, are perceived as echoes of a historical legacy of racism and raise doubts about procedural justice. Disenfranchisement and erosion of public trust can undermine efforts to reduce crime by discouraging reporting from marginalized communities. This effect may be particularly salient for intimate partner violence (IPV) crimes as they are commonly perceived as a private matter. Our research aims to analyze the impact of police shootings on IPV related homicide and suicide to estimate the unintended consequences of these incidents.