Lack of community-oriented policing practices partially mediates the relationship between racial residential segregation and “black-on-black” homicide rates

Abstract

Although black-white racial residential segregation in the US has continued to decline, blacks still experience greater levels of segregation than other racial groups. The present study examined whether a lack of community policing practices in 2012 mediated the relationship between racial segregation in 2010 and intraracial (i.e., “black-onblack”) homicides in 2013. We collected incorporated-place-level secondary data from several sources and performed mediation analysis to test relationships among variables. Consistent with previous research, higher levels of segregation were associated with higher intraracial homicide rates; however, the effect was mediated by lack of community policing efforts. Specifically, our findings suggest that lack of community policing practices might explain 13% of the relationship between black-white residential segregation and intraracial homicide.Given the history and complexity of racial residential segregation in the US, one immediate measure by which policymakers might improve health in segregated places is the implementation and expansion of community policing initiatives.