Patterns of Deadly Force: Who Is Most at Risk?
Each year, police officers across the United States kill hundreds of people on the job. As of November 2025, at least 1,001 people have been killed by police this year, and 2024 was the deadliest year for police violence on record. Most of these killings result from what were originally traffic stops, mental health checks, and non-violent disturbances where no crime was alleged. Despite this, more than 98% of killings by police from 2013 to 2025 have not resulted in criminal charges against the officers involved.
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Content Last Updated: December 2, 2025
Key Takeaways
- Despite nationwide calls for reform, police violence in the U.S. has continued to escalate in recent years, and little legislative progress has been made to hold officers and police departments accountable.
- Black and Hispanic people are disproportionately more likely to be killed by police in the U.S. than white people, even if they are unarmed.
- If your loved one was a victim of deadly force by police, Police Brutality Center can connect you with an experienced civil rights lawyer to help you pursue justice.
Understanding the patterns of excessive force by law enforcement and who is most at risk is critical for effectively addressing systemic issues like lack of training, lack of oversight, and implicit racial bias.
What Constitutes Deadly Force in Policing?
The use of “deadly force” by law enforcement occurs when a police officer or other law enforcement officer uses force likely to cause death or serious bodily injury. Under U.S. Department of Justice policy, law enforcement officers may only use deadly force when necessary, meaning they have a reasonable belief that the subject of the force poses an imminent danger of death or serious physical harm to another person. Deadly force is not justified solely to prevent the escape of a fleeing suspect. Meanwhile, officers may not use chokeholds or carotid restraints unless the deadly force standard is satisfied.
The law dictates that the reasonableness of any use of force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with hindsight.
Case Law on Deadly Force
- Tennessee v. Garner – 1985: Tennessee v. Garner involved a burglary during which an officer shot an unarmed suspect in the back of the head to prevent escape. A Tennessee statute allowed officers to use all necessary force to arrest fleeing felons. However, in the Garner case, the Supreme Court found it was unconstitutional. The court ruled that officers may not use deadly force unless they have probable cause to believe the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to themselves or others.
- Graham v. Connor – 1989: The Supreme Court’s decision in Graham v. Connor led the Department of Justice to establish its policy on use of force by police. Officers may use only the force that is objectively reasonable to effectively gain control of an incident, while protecting the safety of the officer and others. The decision to use force requires careful attention to the facts and circumstances of each particular case, including the severity of the crime at issue, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat, and whether they are actively resisting/evading arrest.
Key Demographics Most at Risk of Deadly Force
Restraints, Shackling, and Isolation
Across the U.S., police use of deadly force disproportionately impacts the Black and Hispanic communities. According to the Mapping Police Violence database from Campaign Zero, a police reform advocacy group, police are 3 three times more likely to kill Black people than white people. Black people are 1.2 times more likely to be unarmed in such incidents. Additionally, 97% of America’s major city police departments kill Black people at higher rates than white people.
Every year in the U.S., an estimated one million civilians experience police threats of or the use of force, resulting in about 75,000 non-fatal injuries requiring hospital treatment and 600-1100 deaths. Both Black and Hispanic Americans are significantly more likely to experience threats or use of force during police initiated contact, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. On average, 83% of people subjected to force were unarmed.
Age and Gender
Young men, especially those aged 20 through 44, are at higher risk of experiencing excessive force by police.
Low-Income Communities
There is a proven intersection of poverty and police brutality. Socio-economic status affects police encounters and outcomes, with lower-income individuals being more likely to experience violence.
Mentally Ill and Disabled Individuals
Individuals with mental health issues or disabilities face extreme danger during police encounters, as a significant portion of fatal police shootings started as welfare checks for mental health.
Geographical Variations
According to a 2024 study, the rates of police shootings that caused injuries or death in rural areas approached or exceeded those of urban areas from 2015 to 2020. The study also found that after accounting for local demographic differences, Black, Hispanic, and indigenous residents were injured at higher rates than White residents in all examined areas. Police killings are generally increasing in rural and suburban areas and decreasing in urban areas.
In 2024, New Mexico had the highest rate of deadly force incidents, with the Albuquerque Police Department making up the majority of incidents.
Notable Cases Highlighting Deadly Force Patterns
Wrongful death cases like those of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tyre Nichols have garnered more attention to the issue of police brutality, though this attention doesn’t always result in punishment for the police involved.
However, in May 2025, the Supreme Court revived a lawsuit against a Houston-area police officer who fatally shot a man during a traffic stop over unpaid tolls. The justices ruled that courts can look beyond the exact moment a police officer is using deadly force to determine if it was reasonable, as earlier facts and circumstances may bear on how a reasonable officer would have responded to later ones. Decisions like these are evidence of incremental systemic progress on the issue of police brutality.
Why Police Deadly Force Patterns Persist
Numerous studies have shown that a lack of accountability for law enforcement officers has allowed the issue of police violence to proliferate, particularly due to police officers’ qualified immunity in court and a general lack of independent oversight of police.
Additionally, a lack of consistent use-of-force policies and thorough de-escalation training contributes to the issue. When it comes to racial disparities in police violence, implicit bias, systemic racism, and a cultural normalization of aggressive policing have escalated the problem.
Legal Rights of Victims and Families
Under state and federal laws, victims of police brutality and their families have numerous rights that protect them and allow them legal recourse in cases of unjustified deadly force. The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures, and the Supreme Court has recognized that police use of force to stop or arrest a suspect can legally constitute a “seizure” of that person. This means that an officer’s use of force must be “reasonable,” as governed by the Fourth Amendment.
Your legal options after losing a loved one to police brutality will vary based on the evidence available, the circumstances of the incident, and the state you live in. Each state has its own time limit, or “statute of limitations,” for filing lawsuits. By suing for wrongful death or negligence, you may be able to recover monetary damages for medical bills, emotional distress, pain, suffering, and more.
What to Do if Your Loved One Was a Victim of Deadly Force
After losing a loved one to police violence, it’s crucial to document as much evidence of the incident as possible, including gathering photos, videos, autopsy reports, police reports, witness statements, and more. You can also report the incident and contact a civil rights attorney to learn more about your legal options.
Speak With a Civil Rights Lawyer Today
If you have experienced police brutality firsthand or have lost a loved one due to police misconduct, we may be able to connect you with a civil rights lawyer to help you pursue justice. At Police Brutality Center, our mission is to prevent further harm and ensure justice for victims by connecting them with experienced civil rights law firms. We can provide access to a network of lawyers who can offer legal assistance to those seeking justice.
Police brutality is a human rights violation. Get legal help here today.
Connect With an Experienced Attorney
Police Brutality Center is proud to partner with Alex Straus, Chair of the Civil Rights Department at Milberg LLC, to help victims of civil rights abuses. Throughout his career, Mr. Straus has represented clients across the country in cases involving police misconduct, racial discrimination, and abuse in correctional facilities.
