NCJ Number
85144
Date Published
1980
Length
218 pages
Annotation
The study surveyed 1,282 police officers from 68 police departments and 48 sheriffs' departments in Michigan to determine officers' views on several issues related to the use of deadly force as a deterrent to felony crimes against property.
Abstract
The study centered on these concerns: (1) Do police officers consider felony property offenders to be as dangerous as felony assault crime offenders? (2) Is deadly force a deterrent to felony property crimes? (3) Do police officers fear sanctions of civil or criminal liability for improper use of deadly force? and (4) What effect do officers feel statutory limitations on their role, public safety, and criminal conduct? A Likert-Response type questionnaire was sent to the 1,282 police officers. Responses were coded by rank, years of service, age, race, education, jurisdiction, size, location, type, policy versus no policy, training, and strictness of policy. Data analysis revealed that police officers believe felony property crime offenders to be as dangerous as felony assault crime offenders; officers are undecided as to whether or not deadly force is a deterrent to buglary, but agree that it is a deterrent to other property crimes; and officers are undecided as to the effect civil or criminal sanctions have on their discretion to use deadly force. However, officers agree that statutory limitations on police discretions are dangerous. Tables and references are included. (Author abstract modified)