Degree Name
Master of Arts
Graduate Program
Sociology
Advisor
Whaley, Rachel B.
Abstract
While previous research has examined the police encounters of various immigrant populations and the general U.S. population, the specific experiences of Ghanaian men remain largely unknown. This study explored the police experiences of Ghanaian men in the United States. Using in-depth interviews, conducted via Zoom, with fifteen Ghanaian men, aged 27 to 48, this study investigated their encounters with U.S. police, perceptions of law enforcement, experiences of racial profiling, mistreatment, and violence, and the impact of their immigrant status on their encounters with the police. Analysis of interview data shows that Ghanaian men’s experiences with U.S. police vary based on their length of stay in the U.S. Most of those who had lived in the U.S. for over five years (5 – 20 years) reported negative interactions, often attributing mistreatment to racial bias and expressing negative or mixed views of law enforcement. In contrast, men who had been in the U.S. for three years or less, mostly international students, reported positive experiences, viewing the police as fair, with their encounters often seen as justified. By comparing these findings with existing literature on Black American men, this enhances the understanding of how immigrant identities influence interactions with the police. This study also seeks to inform police practices and contribute to broader discussions on justice and community relations in the USA.