Black America is over-policed and under-protected [View all]

The University of Minnesota Center for Urban and Regional Affairs recently released a report detailing the “over-policed and under-protected” experience of residents of north Minneapolis. The report gives extensive evidence — including data and interviews with residents — on the history and dubious future potential of the Minneapolis Police Department to supply safety for all the residents.

When asked to rate their perceptions of “neighborhood safety,” one-third of the respondents said “poor” and nearly half said “fair”; just 20% of respondents rated their neighborhood safety as “good” or “very good.”

Yet even when participants described feeling safe, it was often because they saw their own block as relatively safe or because they took great lengths to ensure their own safety, rather than a positive evaluation of overall neighborhood conditions or policing.

Residents described how they reduced their risk of victimization, including staying at home — especially at night — and avoiding “hot spots” and dangerous people in the community.

Read more: https://minnesotareformer.com/2020/12/07/black-america-is-over-policed-and-under-protected/