Date of Conferral

8-12-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Marisa Bryant

Abstract

Police use of excessive force is an enduring challenge for criminal justice institutions and the public, particularly, affecting minority communities. This has contributed to diminished public confidence in U.S. policing institutions. Prior empirical studies among law enforcement officers, indicate that Black minorities have been discriminated by police officers. Stress research links social stress to mental health and identifies police brutality as an anticipatory stressor for minority groups. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify factors, including job-related stressors, and racial bias, that contribute to officers using excessive force, so to fill the gap in research, and develop evidence-based recommendations for preventing and mitigating police misconduct. Racial bias and stress among police officers were assessed by using secondary data to investigate their association with excessive force in policing. The theoretical framework leading this study was social learning theory, focusing on two research questions: 1) How does racial bias among law enforcement professionals impact the use of excessive force against minorities?; and 2) How do job-related stressors among law enforcement professionals impact the use of excessive force against minorities? Seventeen adjudicated cases were analyzed through thematic analysis in the context of revealing patterns and themes. The study findings indicate that job-related stressors, racial bias, police misconduct, and excessive force were common themes among Black minorities in the greater area of Boston, MA. The implications for positive social change were to achieve equity in public safety, with recommendations that police officers and community members must actively collaborate to create strong community bonds.

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