Fractured Trust: The Spillover Effects of Police Violence on Political Trust and Democracy

How does police violence impact citizens' trust in democratic institutions? This paper explores the influence of police interactions, particularly through indirect exposure to violence and direct victimization, on citizens' political trust. We conducted two studies: an observational analysis using LAPOP data across various Latin American countries and an experimental study in Brazil, examining both direct and vicarious experiences of police violence. Our results reveal that both direct experiences of police abuse and indirect exposure through media significantly erode trust in key democratic institutions such as the judiciary, legislature, and executive. This erosion of trust is mediated through decreased trust in the police and perceptions of procedural justice. Furthermore, the effects of indirect exposure are moderated by factors such as race, partisan identity, and trait aggression personality. Overall, this research highlights the critical impact of police violence on political trust and suggests that addressing such violence is crucial for sustaining democratic legitimacy, particularly in regions experiencing democratic backsliding. By emphasizing the broader political consequences of police violence, our study contributes to the literature on political behavior and public opinion, suggesting the use of reforms in law enforcement as a means to bolster democracy's resilience.