NCJ Number
128908
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 36 Issue: 2 Dated: (March 1991) Pages: 434-448
Date Published
1991
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Sixteen deaths associated with the use of the Taser were examined. All involved young males who had a history of abuse of controlled substances; all but three were under the influence of cocaine, phencyclidine (phencyclohexylpiperidine (PCP)), or amphetamine.
Abstract
All were behaving in a bizarre or unusual fashion which necessitated calling the police. The cause of death was an overdose of drugs in 11, gunshot wounds in 3, heart disease and Taser shock in 1, and an undetermined cause in one. All were considered to be under the influence of PCP by the police at the time of the incident. All were unarmed, which was the reason a Taser was used instead of a more lethal weapon. The conclusion reached after evaluation of these cases is that the Taser in and of itself does not cause death, although it may have contributed to death in one case. 1 table, 6 figures, and 14 references (Author abstract)