NCJ Number
80834
Date Published
1982
Length
473 pages
Annotation
This study examines the issues of police use of deadly force. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) obtained 10 years of statistical data for 57 cities on police 'justifiable homicide' (as defined by the FBI Uniform Crime Reports), conducted a 54-city survey of police departments, and analyzed written policies to identify factors involved in deadly force incidents.
Abstract
The survey instrument was designed to test 40 hypotheses and to collect data on the impact of personnel practices, training, policy procedures, equipment, and other organizational considerations on the use of deadly force. A content analysis of written deadly force policies was also completed. Some of the findings that can be inferred from the analyses are as follows: departments with sufficient numbers of street supervisors providing tactical guidance and manpower support have a lower incidence of use of deadly force; when an agency chooses to have a stakeout unit without a management policy directive, its homicide rate is significantly greater than those agencies with a policy directive; the review of deadly force incidents by a chief of police seems to be related to a lower homicide rate; and agencies requiring a .38 caliber weapon and ammunition experience a lower homicide rate than agencies that permit officers to carry a larger caliber weapon. Recommended guidelines were developed after the researchers reviewed model standards on deadly force issued by the FBI, American Law Institute, President's Commission, IACP, Institute of Government Affairs, and American Bar Association and also analyzed the municipal deadly force policies. The appendixes contain the study instrument, tabulations of justifiable homicide data, survey instrument, and a synoposis of deadly force laws by State. For the executive summary, see NCJ 80835.