12/17/2023
While many police brutality and fatal police shootings are not prosecuted in criminal court, victims and the families of victims have been able to pursue civil judgments, which cost millions of taxpayers dollars each year.
$175.9 million in civil judgments and claims for police-related lawsuits was paid by New York City during the 2019 fiscal year. New York City has the largest police force with 36,000 members serving 8.3 million people.
$500 million was paid out by the City of Chicago between 2004 and 2014 for police misconduct-related lawsuits. The Chicago police department has 12,000 officers serving 2.7 million people.