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and disability to a young person

January 15, 2026

Police violence is a critical issue associated with adverse health throughout the

lifecourse.¹ Exposure to police violence in youth may be uniquely harmful, as

adverse experiences during sensitive developmental stages have health

implications that compound into adulthood. Long-standing work by activists

and organizers to address police violence has led to calls for documentation of

health outcomes among youth that are associated with policing practices.

To date, the few health studies on police violence among youth have elucidated

mechanisms of exposure to policing practices, including direct contact (eg, stop

and frisk), anticipatory contact (eg, surveillance), vicarious contact (eg,

witnessing police violence), and in utero exposure.