NCJ Number
229619
Date Published
2009
Length
226 pages
Annotation
This study investigates officer-involved shooting from the perspective of the citizen.
Abstract
Chapter 1 introduces the concept of police use of force. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 provide a detailed review of the previous literature regarding police use of force. Because this topic is rather broad, each chapter addresses areas of use of force separately. Chapter 2 will cover police use of force research in a general sense. The following chapters focus on deadly force by the police. Chapter 3 and 4 are separated by the 1985 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in Tennessee v. Garner. Because of the impact of the Court's decision in this case, which limited the circumstances in which police officers can use lethal force, the research literature on deadly force was divided between pre and post-1985. Chapter 5 provides background information on the setting in which the study was conducted. In this chapter, Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the department being used for the analysis, as well as the area being serviced by the department, is explored so the reader can develop a basic understanding of the demographics for both the department and county. Chapter 6 establishes the theoretical framework for this study, contending that it is possible to combine two theories to explain how specific citizen behaviors, in part, contribute to police shootings. Chapters 7 and 8 respectively serve to outline the methodology used in this study, and lay out the findings. Through both of those chapters, the research design is revealed, and a summary of the data analysis is offered. Chapter 9 summarizes the entire study by providing the discussion and implications. Tables, figures, references, and index