Defunding the police: Reflecting on the US experience and lessons learned for Canada

Abstract

“Defund the police” became a rallying cry for change in the aftermath of the May 2020 death of George Floyd—at the hands of the police—in Minneapolis. What is meant by “defunding,” how has it evolved in the United States and in Canada, and what are the implications for Canadian municipalities going forward? Canadian community and civic leaders, police and other human service providers, and policymakers will benefit from an informed understanding of these issues as the discourse on the future of policing—and community safety and well-being more broadly—deepens.