Where More Americans Die at the Hands of Police

[thelakelander]

The death of 18-year-old Michael Brown at the hands of a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer has reintroduced police-related killings as a topic of major national debate. Brown is just the latest in a long line of young, unarmed black men killed by law enforcement agents.

It's been widely reported that roughly 400 Americans die at the hands of police per year. And yet, that figure is likely a significant underestimate, as Reuben Fischer-Baum details at FiveThirtyEight.

We ask a slightly different question: Where are Americans more likely to die at the hands of police or while under arrest?

Full article and more maps: http://www.citylab.com/crime/2014/08/where-more-americans-die-at-the-hands-of-police/379067/

[Dog Walker]

Didn't I just read a story somewhere, NYT?, Huffpost? that there was no real reporting system for deaths related to arrests or custody; that there was no Federal requirement or standards for reporting?

That map is just plain weird.

[Dog Walker]

Here it is:   http://www.salon.com/2014/08/29/cop_killings_erased_from_history_a_tale_of_federal_negligence/

Seems that the reporting of deaths in arrests or custody by law enforcement to the Feds is entirely voluntary.

Kind of explains the colors on the map.

[spuwho]

Lake,

This is where one of those dot density based maps would represent the data better. A whole state gaining a color probably distorts the representation.

For example, Texas, is Dallas metro driving the numbers or is it border related?

I agree it's a needed discussion.  Police accountability and professionalism is under scrutiny right now and people are looking for anything systemic.

[coredumped]

This is where one of those dot density based maps would represent the data better. A whole state gaining a color probably distorts the representation.

Agreed, Jax is more Georgia than Miami.

On a related note, this looks like the inverse of obese states:


Are the fatter states not dying because they're not running for the police?

[Dog Walker]

The "fatter" states just aren't reporting.

[Know Growth]

Here it is:   http://www.salon.com/2014/08/29/cop_killings_erased_from_history_a_tale_of_federal_negligence/

Seems that the reporting of deaths in arrests or custody by law enforcement to the Feds is entirely voluntary.

Kind of explains the colors on the map.

Yes- apparently.

Good WJCT/Public Radio piece this past week regards this aspect.