Researche Paper (for Hifsa Shakaut)

Executive Summary

This xresearch xexamines xwhy xpolice xuse sxforce xonce xencountering xviolent xsuspects. This rerxdescribes xseveral xfactors xthat xcontribute xto xthe xsuccess xor xfailure xof xofficers xinvolved xin xthese xencounters. xThese xare xthe xfactors xthat xare xsymbolized xwith xjustification xand xhe xreasonableness xof xforce, xofficer xemployment xinside xthe xutilization xof xforce, xdepartment xand xofficer xobligation xinside xthe xutilization xof xforce, xwhy xsome xofficers xare xdisinclined xto xuse xdeadly xforce xand xthe xmethod xreluctance xto xuse xdeadly xforce xmay xeven xbe xchanged. These xfactors xcan xhave xa xsevere ximpact xon xofficer xsafety xand xpublic xperception xof xsocial xcontrol xofficers xand xtheir xdepartments. xThis xessay xmakes xa xshot xto xclarify xwhy xthese xfactors xhave xsuch xan ximpression xand xthe xmethod xdepartments xand xofficers xcan xminimize xthe xliability xplaced xon xthem xand xrisk xto xthe xofficer’s xsafety xthroughout xa xviolent xencounter. xThis xpreliminary xstudy xwas xprimarily xattached xthe xinvestigation xof xthings xrelated xto xinjuries xwhich xis xable xto xoccur xto xcops xand xvoters xthroughout xuse xof xforce xevents. xPrevious xstudies xhave xshown xthat xapprox. x1 xto x2 xof xthem xyou xlook xafter xpolice-citizen xcontacts xinvolve xthe xthreat xor xapplication xof xphysical xforce xby xthe xpolice, xwhereas x15-20 xyou xlook xafter xarrests xmay xcause xthe xemployment xof xforce xby xpolice xto xmanage xa xresistant xsuspect. xMost xapplications xof xforce xare xlow xlevel, xhowever, xassociate xdegreed xinvolve xthe xemployment xof xofficer’s xhands, xarms, xand xbody xto xpush xor xpull xagainst xa xsuspect xto xappreciate xmanagement. xOf xcourse, xnot xall xforce xis xminor xand xofficers xare xtrained xand xequipped xto xuse xa xdiffusion xof xforce xtechniques xand xweapons xto xbeat xresistance, xalong xwith xless xdeadly xdevices xlike xbatons, xor xTasers, xmoreover xas xfirearms xto xdefend xthemselves xor xothers xagainst xthreats xof xdeath xor xserious xbodily xinjury. xVaried xlegal xand xpolicy xrestrictions xgovern xthe xemployment xof xforce xby xpolice, xbeginning xwith xthe xfourth xAmendment’s xprohibition xagainst xunreasonable xsearches xand xseizures xand xdevolving xdownward xto xstate xstatutes xand xdivision xpolicies xthat xgovern xbut xand xbeneath xwhat xconditions xofficers xmay xuse xforce. xIn xmost xsocial xcontrol xagencies xtoday, xthe xemployment xof xforce xis xtightly xcontrolled xby xpolicy, xand xtons xof xgreat xapplications xof xforce xare xreviewed xand/or xinvestigated xby xsuperordinate xpersonnel xor xinternal xaffairs xunits. X

Scope

The xuse xof xforce xby xpolice xhas xbeen xthe xsubject xof xempirical xinquiry xfor xquite xforty xyears. xDuring xthis xtime, xheaps xof xhas xbeen xlearned xregarding xthe xcharacter xand xextent xof xthe xforce xused xby xpolice xand xso xthe xconditions xand xcorrelates xthat xhave xa xbearing xon xits xapplication. x

Among xthe xforemost xnecessary xissues xthat xhave xreceived xattention xfrom xuse-of-force xresearchers xover xthe xyears xare xthose xinvolving xinjuries xto xofficers xand xsuspects. xHowever, xheaps xof xof xthe xanalysis xon xinjuries xremains xdescriptive xin xnature xor xcontains xsubstantial xinformation xand xanalytic xlimitations xthat xstop xthe xanalysis xfrom xobtaining xused xoptimally xto xmake xpolicy xor xwork xchoices xat xthe xagency xlevel. X Moreover, xwith xthe xproliferation xin xrecent xyears xof xconducted xenergy xdevices x(CEDs), xqueries xhave xarisen xregarding xthe xprotection xof xsuch xweapons xand xwhat xtheir ximpact xhas xbeen xon xinjuries xand xin-custody xdeaths. x(Amnesty xInternational, x2004) xThe xshortage xof xfreelance xanalysis xon xCEDs xand xinjuries xhas xleft xsocial xcontrol xagencies xwhereas xnot xthe xinfo xthey xneed xto xmake xsound xpolicy xchoices xor xto xretort xto xinquiries xfrom xvoters, xinterest xgroups, xand xpolicy-makers, xvariety xof xwhom xquestion xwhether xor xnot xCEDs xare xassociate xacceptable xless-lethal xcompletely xdifferent xfor xgeneral xpolice xuse.