Policing and the Brain: How Neuroscience Can Contribute to Police Reform

The language of medical science has been used by law enforcement to justify police brutality. For example, a police officer present at the killing of George Floyd suggested that Floyd might have been experiencing “excited delirium,” a term that, while not recognized by major medical associations, is sometimes used by law enforcement to describe aggression resulting from illicit substance use.

Though there is potential for problematic and biased use of medical science by law enforcement, could neuroscience hold promise for shaping evidence-based reforms?

Join us on March 31st as we explore this question through a discussion of recent neuroscience research into emotions and the brain, and the significance of this research for police reform efforts.