Mental Illness as a Signifier of Fatal Police Shootings

 People with mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed by police than people without mental illness. This disparity is even more pronounced for people of color, who are twice as likely to be killed by police as white people, even when controlling for mental illness.

There are a number of possible explanations for this disparity. One possibility is that police officers are not adequately trained to de-escalate situations involving people with mental illness. Another possibility is that police officers are more likely to perceive people with mental illness as a threat. This is known as implicit bias, and it is a common problem in law enforcement.

 

Gender and Age Statistics

 According to the same report, men are more likely to be killed by police than women, even when controlling for mental illness. This disparity is likely due to a number of factors, including implicit bias and the fact that men are more likely to be involved in violent crime.

In terms of age, young people are more likely to be killed by police than older adults. This is likely due to a number of factors, including the fact that young people are more likely to be involved in crime and the fact that police officers are more likely to perceive young people as a threat.

Conclusion

 The intersection of mental illness, gender, and age is a significant factor in fatal police shootings. People with mental illness, men, and young people are all more likely to be killed by police than their counterparts. These findings suggest that the intersection of mental illness, gender, and age is a significant factor in fatal police shootings.