Policing Asian communities in the United States: a systematic literature review and discussion

Abstract

PurposeThis article aims to synthesize published research on the policing of Asian communities in the United States.Design/methodology/approachThis is a systematic literature review using PRISMA 2020 guidelines.FindingsSixteen studies were reviewed. Five examined violence by police against Asian community members and reported rates for Asians closer to those against Whites than against members of other groups. One study found no relationship between violence against police and increased minority representation on the force. Four studies reported conflicting results regarding traffic stops of Asian motorists and in general perceptions of police anti-Asian bias. One study illustrated how racialization processes reproduce inequality both between racial-ethnic categories and within them. Five studies examined Asian community members’ general attitudes toward/satisfaction with police and reported—with qualifications—generally favorable attitudes and satisfaction with them.Originality/value This is the first systematic literature review of policing Asian communities in the United States.

Guest editorial: Policing and Asian communities: an area that has been neglected by police scholars

“…This special issue's focus is six on studies whose focus is on interactions occurring between local police and Asian residents both inside and outside the United States of America. We begin the issue with a study by Lim et al . (2024), which reviewed extant literature on the policing of Asian communities in the United States of America to investigate “what is known” on the topic.…”

“…This special issue's focus is six on studies whose focus is on interactions occurring between local police and Asian residents both inside and outside the United States of America. We begin the issue with a study by Lim et al (2024), which reviewed extant literature on the policing of Asian communities in the United States of America to investigate "what is known" on the topic. Utilizing a PRISMA systematic literature review framework, Lim et al (2023) outlined the steps they undertook to compile and review relevant articles, beginning with the terms employed to search two criminal justice databases (Scopus and Criminal Justice Abstracts).…”

“…However, only a small number of scholarly studies empirically examined these topics before, during and as the pandemic waned. The numbers were small mainly because there are little relevant data available, which includes unreliable official hate crime data due to underreporting (Lim et al ., 2023). To illustrate, in a recent study, Kim et al .…”