Addressing the Connection Between Policing and Population Health

A new University of Washington study model looks at the impact law enforcement has on population health. Specific police actions, such as arrests or shootings, have a direct and immediate effect on individuals involved in the incidents. However, researchers wonder how the action impacts those living in the community and their health.

Due to the large number of people law enforcement directly interacts with, researchers suspect that policing might be a clear but not well-understood factor of population health.

However, understanding how law enforcement impacts the mental, physical, social, and structural health as well as the overall well-being of a community is a complicated task. It involves various academic and research disciplines, including criminology, sociology, psychology, public health, and research into social justice, the environment, economics, and history.

“We needed a map for how to think about the complex issues at the intersection of policing and health,” lead author Maayan Simckes, a recent doctoral graduate from UW’s Department of Epidemiology, said in a press release.

In order to better understand the complex relationship between policing and population health, Simcks created a conceptual model depicting the relationship and assembled a team of researchers to collaborate with on the project.

“This model shows how different types of encounters with policing can affect population health at multiple levels, through different pathways, and that factors like community characteristics and state and local policy can play a role,” said Simckes.

The study examines various factors that may contribute to explaining the health impacts of policing by looking at research across several of the disciplines. 

“This study provides a useful tool to researchers studying policing and population health across many different disciplines. It has the potential to help guide research on the critical topic of policing and health for many years to come,” added senior author Anjum Hajat, an associate professor in the UW Department of Epidemiology.

According to the study, “mental health may be the issue most frequently discussed in the context of police-community interaction … One U.S. study found that among men, anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with frequency of police stops and perception of the intrusiveness of the encounter.”

Among a series of other examples studied in the new model, the researchers also explored the cyclic nature of policing and population health. Researchers highlight in the study that police stops tend to cluster in disadvantaged communities, claiming that an over-saturated police presence in these communities could lead to more concentrated crime.

However, it may be impossible to determine if the police practices are causing higher crime rates or those practices are a response to the crime. Despite this, the model aims to capture these complex and bidirectional relationships.

“Our model underscores the importance of reforming policing practices and policies to ensure they effectively promote population wellbeing at all levels,” said Simckes. “I hope this study ignites more dialogue and action around the roles and responsibilities of those in higher education and in clinical and public-health professions for advancing and promoting social justice and equity in our communities.”