Tracking (In)justice: Uncovering Potential Biases in Canadian Incidents of Police Use of Force Resulting in Fatality

The current body of literature on lethal use of force indicates a tendency for greater force utilization against males than females, and an overrepresentation of racialized individuals in use of force statistics. However, little research on the factors surrounding lethal force has been done within a Canadian context. To address this gap, the present study utilized the Tracking (In)Justice dataset, which tracks cases of use of force resulting in fatality in Canada, to explore victim demographics, types of force employed, incident locations, and changes in victim race over time. Analysis revealed that males constituted the majority of victims, and Indigenous and Black individuals were disproportionately victimized. The highest level of force used was consistent across genders and races, with firearms as the primary method of force. Additionally, certain provinces had higher incidences of Indigenous and Black victims, and victim demographics were found to exhibit annual fluctuations. By providing a better understanding of who has been victimized by lethal use of force in Canada, as well as where and when, the current study acts as groundwork for future studies to delve further into the contextual factors surrounding these incidents. However, the current study was limited by missing data, limited variables collected, and the narrow scope of incidents, which do not reflect the true prevalence of lethal use of force decisions in Canada. Ultimately, the results and limitations of the study underscore the necessity for a standardized national database of lethal use of force to better comprehend the phenomenon within Canada.