Long before George Floyd’s death this past May, police reform debates have centered around de-escalation. The interest has stemmed, mainly, from high profile police shootings of mentally ill individuals. Reformers hope to prevent such incidents by giving cops special training to de-escalate crisis situations.
De-escalation’s not universally popular. Defund the police advocates would prefer diverting resources to social services. Academic researchers have cast doubt on whether de-escalation reduces shootings. City budget deficits pose the greatest threat to de-escalation. Getting de-escalation right costs money, and the COVID-19 pandemic has pounded governments’ finances. With signs emerging of diminished commitment to de-escalation, now’s a good time to rethink the case for it.
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