In 2011, over 62.9 million U.S. residents age 16 or older,
or 26% of the population, had one or more contacts with
police during the prior 12 months (figure 1). For about
half (49%) of persons experiencing contact with police, the
most recent contact was involuntary or police-initiated. In
2011, 86% of persons involved in traffic stops during their
most recent contact with police and 66% of persons involved
in street stops (i.e., stopped in public but not in a moving
vehicle) believed that the police both behaved properly and
treated them with respect during the contact. A greater
percentage of persons involved in street stops (25%) than
those pulled over in traffic stops (10%) believed the police
had not behaved properly. Regardless of the reason for the
stop, less than 5% of persons who believed the police had not
behaved properly filed a complaint.