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Underreporting of Justifiable Homicides Committed by Police Officers in the United States, 1976-1998

Author

Listed:
  • Loftin, C.
  • Wiersema, B.
  • McDowall, D.
  • Dobrin, A.

Abstract

Objectives. This study assessed the consistency of estimates of the number of justifiable homicides committed by US police officers and identified sources of underreporting. Methods. The number of justifiable homicides committed by police officers between 1976 and 1998 was estimated from supplementary homicide report (SHR) and National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) mortality data. Results. Nationally, the SHR estimate was 29% larger than the NVSS estimate. However, in most states this pattern was reversed, with more deaths reported in the NVSS. Conclusions. Both systems underreport, but for different reasons. The NVSS misclassifies cases as homicides, rather than justifiable homicides committed by police officers, because certifiers fail to mention police involvement. The SHR misses cases because some jurisdictions fail to file reports or omit justifiable homicides committed by police officers.

Suggested Citation

  • Loftin, C. & Wiersema, B. & McDowall, D. & Dobrin, A., 2003. "Underreporting of Justifiable Homicides Committed by Police Officers in the United States, 1976-1998," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(7), pages 1117-1121.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:2003:93:7:1117-1121_2
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    Cited by:

    1. Koslicki, Wendy M. & Willits, Dale W. & Brooks, Rachael, 2021. "Fatal outcomes of militarization: Re-examining the relationship between the 1033 Program and police deadly force," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    2. Cunningham, Jamein & Feir, Donn. L. & Gillezeau, Rob, 2021. "Collective Bargaining Rights, Policing, and Civilian Deaths," IZA Discussion Papers 14208, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Zimmerman, Gregory M. & Fridel, Emma E. & Sheppard, Keller G. & Lawshe, Nathaniel L., 2021. "Contextualizing fatal police-resident encounters with a focus on Hispanic or Latin American Places: Does macro-level racial and ethnic composition distinguish resident fatalities by the police and pol," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).

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