Summary
This report attempts to address the gap in Canadian research by : 1) providing a detailed literature review on police use of force against minorities in Canada and the United States; 2) describing the results of a focus group with leaders from Toronto's Black community on the issue of police use of force; and 3) providing the results of a new study on police use of force in Ontario using data from the province's Special Investigations Unit. The report concludes with a discussion of different explanatory models that might help explain the overrepresentation of African Canadians and Aboriginals in police use of force statistics. Recommendations for reducing the illegitimate use of force by the police are provided. Particular emphasis is placed on reducing police use of foce against racial minority communities.
Contents
1. Introduction – 2. Literature Review – 3. Focus group with community representatives – 4. The special investigations unit use of force study – 5. Explaining Black and Aboriginal over-representation in police use of force statistics – 6. Strategies controlling police use of force and reducing racial bias in police decision-making.