­Public Health and Reparations for State Violence

Overview

Whether policing is viewed as its own social determinant of health (SDOH) or not, police violence is a form of state violence that warrants reparations. It can cause death as well as significantly harm the health of individuals directly subjected to violence, their family members, and communities in ways that can span generations. Providing reparations aligns with public health goals including to create healthy, thriving communities, and eliminate structurally driven health disparities.