Why Justice Shield Matters

People killed by U.S. police in 2024 — the highest annual total on record.

Average number of people killed by police every day in the United States.

Black Americans are nearly 3× more likely to be killed by police than white Americans.

Police killings in the U.S. between 1980 and 2018 estimated to be misclassified or unreported.

Share of killings by police from 2013–2024 in which officers were not charged with a crime.

U.S. residents who have face-to-face contact with police each year — roughly 1 in 5 adults.

Traffic stops conducted by U.S. police annually — the most common police encounter.

People currently locked up in U.S. prisons, jails, and detention centers.

The United States incarcerates more people per capita than any other nation on Earth.

U.S. incarceration rate — roughly 5–10× higher than other developed democracies.

Jail admissions every year in the United States — most for low-level, non-violent offenses.

Black Americans are imprisoned at roughly 5× the rate of white Americans.

Share of criminal convictions in the U.S. that are obtained through plea bargains, often without trial.

Americans with a criminal record — limiting access to jobs, housing, and voting.

Estimated annual cost of mass incarceration in the United States.

Share of low-income Americans who receive inadequate or no legal help for their civil legal problems.

Eviction cases filed in U.S. courts every year — the vast majority of tenants appear without a lawyer.

Share of state civil cases in which at least one party has no legal representation.