Study Reveals Major US Cities Spend Millions Of Dollars On Policing

Photo Credit: Andrew Kelly for the EPA

The report found that multiple cities across the United States spend millions of dollars on policing.

The Center for Popular Democracy, in collaboration with the Law for Black Lives and Black Youth Project 100, recently released a study showing just how much cities spend on their police departments. Oakland spends the most percentage-wise with 41.2 percent of its general fund expenditures going to its police department, while Chicago follows behind with 38.6 percent.

However, in terms of who offers their police departments the biggest budget, New York City comes in first with almost five billion dollars dedicated to its police department's budget. Los Angeles and Chicago come in second and third with $1.48 billion and $1.46 billion, respectively.

The report then highlights the correlation between big spending on policing by cities and counties and the high levels of poverty, unemployment, and racial segregation within these areas, with law enforcement often targeting low-income and Latinx communities.

Also in the report is the disparity between funding police departments and social programs, with places such as Baltimore, setting aside $480 million dollars in 2017 for its police department but only giving $265 million to its public schools.

"Over the last 30 years, the U.S. has dramatically increased its investment in policing and incarceration, while drastically cutting investments in basic infrastructure and slowing investment in social safety net programs," the report states. "Elected officials have stripped funds from mental health services, housing subsidies, youth programs, and food benefits programs, while pouring money into police forces, military grade weapons, high-tech surveillance, jails, and prisons. These investment choices have devastated Black and brown low-income communities who are most affected by both criminalization and systemic social divestment."

Read more from the report here.