Memo: Data Collection on Unreported Police Brutality

I researched and wrote a memo on the barriers to data collection on police abuse, and a possible solution through the National Institute of Justice. 

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OVERVIEW & ISSUE: There is a lack of comprehensive data collection on policing activities, particularly unreported cases of police brutality, abuse, and harassment. In order to understand the extent of the issue and conduct oversight, we need more data on unreported police abuse. While unreported cases can be hard to track, it’s not impossible. The National Crime Victimization Survey (funded by the Department of Justice) currently collects nameless data measuring the types and amount of unreported domestic violence incidents. ¹

CURRENT DATA COLLECTION: While there is no current measure for unreported cases of police abuse, the FBI did start the National Use-of-Force Data Collection in 2019. The database is intended to allow data users to view use-of-force incidents involving law enforcement from a nationwide perspective. The FBI has collected data from more than 6,700 state, local, and tribal agencies, however, that number only accounts for 40% of the nation’s law enforcement.² In addition to the lack of use-of-force data, there remains to be a national database tracking stop-and-frisk incidents, traffic stops, or the use of no-knock warrants.

RESEARCH GRANTS: In order to better understand unreported cases of police abuse, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has the ability to award grants specifically dedicated to researching the subject. The NIJ provides funds for research, development, and evaluation of crime control and justice issues.³ However, there is currently no requirement on the number of grants awarded each year, the topics that are researched, or the institutions that receive the grants. To date, the NIJ has awarded 7,028 grants, amounting to $3,284,086,472.⁴

RECOMMENDATION: Through the appropriations process, we recommend Congress stipulate that the NIJ award nationwide grants, with a preference to Historically Black Colleges (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), for research of unreported police brutality, abuse, and harassment, as well as the barriers to reporting.

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¹ “Bureau of Justice Statistics Home Page.” Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=dcdetail&iid=245

² FBI Announces the Official Launch of the National Use-Of-Force Data Collection.” FBI, 20 Nov. 2018, www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-announces-the-official-launch-of-the-national-use-of-force-data-collection.

³ Jackman, Tom. “FBI Launched Database on Police Use of Force Last Year, but Only 40 Percent of Police Participated.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 17 June 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/crime-law/2020/06/17/fbi-launched-database-police-use-force-last-year-only-40-percent-police-participated/.

⁴ Offices: National Institute of Justice (NIJ).” Office of Justice Programs, www.ojp.gov/about/offices/national-institute-justice-nij.