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                            Library & Multimedia
 Police Use of Force: The Impact of Less-Lethal Weapons and Tactics
NCJ Number
              233281
Journal

*NIJ Journal* Issue: 267 Dated: Winter 2010 Pages: 4-10
Author(s)
          Philip  Bulman
Date Published

March 2011
Length
              7 pages
Publication Series
          NIJ Journal
Annotation
              This article presents findings from a National Institute of Justice  (NIJ) funded study on injuries to officers and civilians during use-of-force events and the impact of less-lethal weapons and tactics in the reduction of injuries to both officers and civilians.
Abstract
              Today, advances in less-lethal technology offer the promise of more effective control over resistive suspects with fewer injuries. Pepper spray was among the first of these newer, less-lethal weapons to be widely adopted by police forces, and more recently, conducted energy devices (CEDs), such as the Taser. Research, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ), was conducted by Geoffrey Alpert on the use of force and less-lethal weapons. Data was gathered from three law enforcement agencies, Richland County, SC, Sheriff's Department, Miami-Dade, FL, and the Seattle, WA, Police Department. In addition a longitudinal analysis was conducted, among 12 local law enforcement agencies, including the above, as well as interviews with officers and suspects involved in use-of-force incidents. To see if the introduction of CEDs was associated with changes in injury rates in police departments. The deployment of pepper spray and CEDs are clearly at an advantage with both weapons preventing or minimizing the physical struggles that are likely to occur between officers and suspects. Further research is recommended to determine whether officers can become too reliant on CEDs and to study in-custody deaths involving CED use. 6 notes
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2005-IJ-CX-0056


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)


  
  
        
  Award
        A Multi-Method Evaluation of Police Use of Force Outcomes
    
  
  
Date Published: March 1, 2011
    
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