Community Voices: A Public Primer on News Reporting on Police Violence

As you read this report keep the following in mind:

News report is supposed to report the facts and not sell an AGENDA
Police Violence is not DEFINED
In this report Police Violence is naively considered as ANY police use of force
The report ignores CONTEXT of the police-citizen contact
People’s feeling are not FACTS
The FACTS are that police use force in less that 5% of police-citizen contacts and Deadly Force in less that 0.1% police-citizen contacts.

The research report, Community Voices: A Public Primer on News Reporting on Police Violence offers a practical review of the community impacts of, helpful and harmful narrative patterns in, and recommended standards for reporting on police violence. Through participatory analysis conducted in partnership with Community Co-Lead Mo Korchinski and clients at the Unlocking the Gates Services Society, these findings have been developed by community members who have experienced police violence to offer guidance to journalists, editors, and others who are interested in critical heart-based storytelling. The Student Co-Lead on this project, Emily R. Blyth, developed the research behind this publication through her time with the 2023-2024 CERi Graduate Fellowship program as a part her doctoral research which examines policing practices in Canada as a source of health inequity. This action-driven and accessibly written publication centers the voices of impacted community members to support the difficult work of reporting on police violence in ways that can expose the harms that police cause and that refuse to perpetuate those harms though uncritical narratives.

Get the Report HERE

Police Use of Force Policies Across America – Stanford Center for Racial Justice – Stanford Law School

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Five years after George Floyd’s killing sparked unprecedented demands for police reform, questions persist about the changes that have—and haven’t—been made to American policing. Many Americans may be surprised to learn that policing rules vary significantly across jurisdictions, with stark differences in how officers are permitted to use force. One city may require officers to try de-escalating a traffic stop before using any force, while another city may permit officers to immediately draw their weapons without attempting alternatives.
— Read on law.stanford.edu/2025/06/25/police-use-of-force-policies-across-america/

Five Years Since the Death of George Floyd: The Damage Continues, Part 1 – Chronicles

There is no evidence that Floyd’s death had anything to do with race, but that fact doesn’t stop the narrative from being promulgated.
— Read on chroniclesmagazine.org/web/five-years-since-the-death-of-george-floyd-the-damage-continues-part-1/

Read part 2 HERE

Understanding Graham v. Connor | Police Magazine

The 1989 case of Graham v. Connor is an example of how the actions of one officer can start a process that establishes law. Using the Graham standard, an officer must apply constitutionally appropriate levels of force based on the unique circumstances.
— Read on www.policemag.com/patrol/article/15347041/understanding-graham-v-connor

2024 Police Violence Report

Comprehensive review of killings by police in 2024.
— Read on policeviolencereport.org/

Five Years After George Floyd: Lessons For Future Movements

The question now is not whether George Floyd’s death changed anything—it did. The question is: Who has the power to shape what comes next?
— Read on newsone.com/6174511/five-years-after-george-floyd-lessons-for-future-movements/

The Supreme Court just got an important police violence case right, in Barnes v. Felix | Vox

The Birthright Citizenship argument wasn’t the only significant news out of the Supreme Court on Thursday.
— Read on www.vox.com/scotus/413340/supreme-court-police-shooting-barnes-felix

Supreme Court analysis: Brett Kavanaugh gives a gratuitous win to cops.

The court explicitly declined to answer the big question, even though it hovered over the case and surfaced repeatedly in oral arguments.
— Read on slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/05/supreme-court-analysis-brett-kavanaugh-cop-win.html

Department of Justice moves to end 10-year federal reform effort with Albuquerque police | News | abqjournal.com

A decade after the U.S. Department of Justice found Albuquerque police engaged in a “pattern or practice” of using excessive force — as high-profile police shootings mounted — the government
— Read on www.abqjournal.com/news/article_a70f7874-02e7-40bd-9e13-2eebaf2a0c24.html

California sheriff slams student lawsuit against police who shut down protests | Fox News

Sheriff Chad Bianco provides excellent reasoning on why it is important for police intervention during campus takeovers. Sheriff Bianco make the point why it’s important for police to intervene early.

UCLA students and Los Angeles community members have filed a lawsuit against local police, alleging they ‘attacked’ campus protesters in May 2024. A police union is firing back.
— Read on www.foxnews.com/us/california-sheriff-slams-meritless-ucla-student-lawsuit-against-police-who-dismantled-anti-israel-encampment.amp