U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Review of Split-Second Decisions - Shootings of and By Chicago Police
NCJ Number
              101948
Journal

*Journal of Criminal Justice* Volume: 11 Dated: (1983) Pages: 181-185
Author(s)
          W A Geller;
                        K J Karales
Date Published

1983
Length
              11 pages
Annotation
              This review of 'Split Second Decisions: Shootings of and by Chicago Police' (Geller and Karales, 1981) asserts that methodological flaws and misstatements make this study suspect as a scholarly contribution.
Abstract
              The Geller and Karales study encompassed all recorded shootings (in which a person was hit) by Chicago police officers during 1974-78. It tabulated the characteristics of shooting incidents and participants (with a minimum of statistical analysis), presented historical and legal analyses of deadly force policies and procedures, and provided an overview of earlier research and recommendations for controlling police use of deadly force. The author maintains that the study is weakest in social science methodology and strongest in arguments of law. A central methodological weakness is the lack of inferential statistics in some areas and their misuse in others. Also, the author argues, the study should have used all incidents where police fired their weapons, not just the occasions when hits occurred. In bolstering support for their preferred policy of using police deadly force only in immediate defense of life, Geller and Karales present an inaccurate list of departments throughout the country which they claim have such a policy. The study does contain statistics and many summary statements that will be useful to law enforcement decisionmakers and researchers.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        79-NI-AX-0134


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Book Review
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 1983
    
          Downloads
        
                      *No download available*

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Police policies and procedures
        Police use of deadly force
        Victimization
        Illinois
        Use of force



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Enhancing Response to Victims: A Formative Evaluation of OVC’s Law Enforcement-Based Victim Services (LEV) Program
                  The Effects of Body-worn Cameras on Police Activity and Police-Citizen Encounter: A Randomized Controlled Trial
                  Course of Domestic Abuse Among Chicago's Elderly: Risk Factors, Protective Behaviors, and Police Intervention
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov