The Mental Health and Social Costs of Police Encounters Among Young Adults in the United States

Abstract

In recent years, American law enforcement has been brought into public focus by global outrage over police killings of Black people. While high profile cases of police violence are more widely discussed in media, activists and scholars are also raising questions about less intensive interactions with police. Specifically, there is growing concern about over-policing and everyday encounters via “mass arrests” in the United States. Less severe interactions with police can adversely affect individuals beyond the time-limited interaction, potentially limiting future life chances and psychological wellbeing. Being stopped or arrested by police may have long-lasting ramifications for the life course and mental health of young adults. Therefore, this dissertation examines the implications of police encounters for mental health and life chances associated with SES among young adults, within the context of racial inequality in the United States. Data are from the U.S. National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). The main findings reveal the harmful impact of police encounters on educational opportunities (i.e., attainment of a college degree), unmet aspirations, and mental health among young adults. My study assesses outcomes including diagnosed mental health disorders (i.e., PTSD, anxiety or panic disorder, and depression) as well as unmet educational aspirations among a national sample of young adults. Policy implications involve the replacement of zero-tolerance school policies with non-punitive approaches to “misbehaviors;” expanded access to higher education institutions; the redirection of funds from law enforcement towards social services and programs; improvements to mental health services; and reframing around the role and scope of police in the United States.