Threat or Use of Force By Police Against the Public

"In both 2018 and 2020, about 3% of U.S. residents experienced the threat or use of force during their most recent police-initiated contact or contact related to a traffic accident (table 9). The threat or use of force was more commonly experienced by those who were male (4%) than female (1%) in both years. It was also more commonly experienced by persons who were black (5% in 2018 and 6% in 2020) or Hispanic (5% in 2018 and 3% in 2020) than persons who were white (2% in both years). Persons ages 16 to 24 (4%) were twice as likely as those age 45 or older (2%) to report the threat or use of force in 2018 and 2020.

"In 2020, about 31% of residents who were most recently involved in a police-initiated or traffic accident-related contact perceived police's threat or use of force as necessary, while 46% saw it as excessive. These percentages were not statistically different from 2018."