FBI finally releases data from the National Use-of-Force Data Collection

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On May 31, 2022, the FBI released national-level statistics on police use of force for the first time ever. These data were derived from the National Use-of-Force Data Collection, which is the first national-level dataset to collect data on police use of force. Law enforcement agencies are not required to submit their data though, so participation rates have been a consistent issue that has prevented the release of information up until this point. The FBI has been reporting on participation rates, but because participation rates have been below the required 60% threshold (up until now), it was unclear whether details on actual use-of-force data would ever be released. Relatedly, there was speculation that lack of participation might even cause the database to shut down.

Unfortunately they were only able to release statistics for 2021, as 2022 participation rates are still too low to generate accurate conclusions. While raw data on these incidents are not available, participation data can be accessed via the FBI’s Law Enforcement Data Explorer.

This release marks a major success as it is the first time that the FBI has released details on national-level use-of-force statistics. The data collected includes information on law enforcement uses of force and basic information on the circumstances, subjects, and officers involved in these incidents, but it does not assess whether officers followed their department’s policy or acted lawfully. Agencies submitted data on uses of force that resulted in death or serious bodily injury, as well as instances where a firearm was discharged at someone. If no qualifying incidents occurred, agencies submitted a zero report for that month. Please note that the percentages displayed below may not add to 100% due to rounding.

According to the FBI’s press release, 50.7% of use-of-force incidents submitted to the FBI resulted in serious bodily injury, while 33.2% caused the death of a person, and 17% involved the discharge of a firearm. Most often, the types of force that were used were firearms, hands/feet, tasers, and canines. Most often these incidents involved people who failed to comply with verbal commands or who exhibited other types of passive resistance. Less commonly, these incidents involved people who displayed a weapon or used firearm against an officer or another person, attempted to escape or flee custody, or resisted arrest.

The most common reason for initial contact (by a wide margin) was police response to unlawful or suspicious activities, which included 56.8% of use-of-force incidents. Second most common was traffic stops, which accounted for 11% of incidents. Following traffic stops were warrant services/court orders (10.1%), mental health calls or welfare checks (7.6%), non-traffic routine patrols (3.2%), and follow-up investigations (2.7%). For 6.9% of cases, the reason for initial contact was unknown.

While the statistics are not incredibly detailed, the FBI’s press release marks a milestone for our country as it is the first time that national-level official statistics on use of force have ever been released.

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