Variations in mortality from legal intervention in the United States-1999 to 2013

In the United States (US) between 279 and 507 people were killed yearly by legal intervention/ law enforcement other than by legal execution (1999-2013).

We explored variations in US deaths by legal intervention using the Compressed Mortality File and CDC WONDER.

Among 5551 deaths by legal intervention, rates increased from 0.11/100,000 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.10, 0.12) in 1999 to 0.16/100,000 (0.14, 0.17) in 2012-2103. Further, for 1999-2013, 71% (3912) occurred at ages 20-44 with the highest rates at ages 20-24 (0.30 (0.28, 0.32)) and 25-34 (0.0.27 (0.26, 0.28)) per 100,000. In addition, 96% (5335) occurred among males, 78% at ages 15-44 years. Among men ages 15-44, rates were highest among American Indian or Alaska Natives (1.04 (95% CI 0.83, 1.29)), who comprise 2.06% of deaths and non-Hispanic Black or African American men (0.97 (0.92, 1.03)), who comprise 29.60%. Rates among men ages 15 to 44 were also higher among Hispanic whites (0.58(0.54, 0.61)), than among non-Hispanic Whites (0.3(0.28, 0.31)), or non-Hispanic or Latino Asian and Pacific Islanders (0.18 (0.15, 0.23)). Among places with reliable rates, the highest State rate for non-Hispanic Black males occurred in Nevada (1.27/100,000 (95% CI 0.77, 1.96) while the highest county was Riverside, CA (2.40(1.52, 3.61)). Corresponding values for Hispanic whites were New Mexico (1.07 (0.83,1.37) and Denver, CO (1.76(1.11, 2.67)) and for non-Hispanic whites, New Mexico (0.54 (0.36, 078) and San Bernardino, CA (0.73 (0.52, 1.00).

Community-based programs, with collaboration from policy makers and community members, may reduce these potentially avoidable premature deaths from legal intervention by targeting high risk sub-populations.