Police Avoidance Among Black Youth.

OBJECTIVES

Police violence is a public health crisis that disproportionately impacts youth of color, particularly Black youth. These disparities may also compel Black youth to engage in police avoidance (ie, efforts to circumvent police contact and surveillance). Even so, research on Black youths' engagement in police avoidance is lacking. The present study is the first to investigate factors that may underpin police avoidance among Black youth.

METHODS

Data come from the Survey of Police-Adolescent Contact Experiences (SPACE), a recent, cross-sectional, non-probability survey of Black youth (around 52% male) aged 12-21 in Baltimore City, Maryland (n = 345).

RESULTS

Findings indicate that youth 1) identifying as bisexual or queer, 2) perceiving lower safety at home and in their neighborhoods, 3) reporting more negative attitudes about police, and 4) engaging in delinquent behaviors reported significantly greater police avoidance. Furthermore, youth who reported a greater number of known persons stopped by the police (eg, family members, friends, neighbors) and had personally experienced officer intrusion during direct or witnessed stops (eg, harsh language, threats of force, use of force) also exhibited greater police avoidance.

CONCLUSIONS

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) identity, reduced perceptions of environmental safety, negative attitudes about police, delinquent behaviors, and multiple types of police exposure may shape police avoidance among Black youth. Findings have the potential to inform targeted strategies to mitigate racial and LGBQ disparities in adolescent well-being.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: None.