ABSTRACT

While the American public is increasingly waking up to the pervasiveness of police violence, the family-level impacts of police killings are severely understudied. This study partnered with families bereaved by police to explore how interactions with law enforcement before and after the killing impacted their psychological wellbeing. Eleven in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with relatives of men of color killed by police. Interviews were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and organized into two domains with five themes. The first domain (The Victim’s Treatment by Police) describes the lost loved one’s history with law enforcement, his killing, and the immediate aftermath of the death. The second domain (The Bereaved Family’s Experience of Law Enforcement) explores the family’s treatment by police subsequent to the death, how participants understood the role of racism, and how they interpreted their children’s view of law enforcement. Participants reported that the pain of their violent loss was compounded by traumatic experiences with law enforcement before and after the killing. The majority saw this treatment as racialized and noted a profound impact on their children’s sense of safety around police. Clinical implications include the imperative to integrate psychological services with legal services, material support, and community building.

摘要

尽管美国公众越来越意识到警察暴力的普遍性，但人们严重忽视了警察杀人的家庭影响。这项研究与警方丧亲的家庭合作，探讨了谋杀前后与执法部门的互动如何影响他们的心理健康。对被警察杀害的有色男人的亲属进行了十一次深入，半结构化的采访。使用解释性现象学分析对访谈进行了分析，并将访谈分为五个主题的两个领域。第一个域（“警察对受害者的治疗”）描述了失去的亲人的历史，执法，他的杀害以及死亡的直接后果。第二个领域（《丧亲之家》的执法经验）探讨了死后警方对家庭的待遇，参与者如何理解种族主义的作用以及他们如何解释子女对执法的看法。参加者报告说，在杀害前后，执法人员受到创伤，使暴力损失的痛苦更加复杂。多数人认为这种待遇是种族歧视的，并注意到对他们子女对警察的安全感产生了深远影响。临床意义包括必须将心理服务与法律服务，物质支持和社区建设相结合。参加者报告说，在杀害前后，执法人员受到创伤，使暴力损失的痛苦更加复杂。多数人认为这种待遇是种族歧视的，并注意到对他们子女对警察的安全感产生了深远影响。临床意义包括必须将心理服务与法律服务，物质支持和社区建设相结合。参加者报告说，在杀害前后，执法人员受到创伤，使暴力损失的痛苦更加复杂。多数人认为这种待遇是种族歧视的，并注意到对他们子女对警察的安全感产生了深远影响。临床意义包括必须将心理服务与法律服务，物质支持和社区建设相结合。