NCJ Number
80545
Date Published
Unknown
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This paper argues that State regulations concerning police use of deadly physical force should be standardized throughout the country and the development of this standardization should begin now.
Abstract
An examination of the regulations on police use of deadly force in all 50 States, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia found that the regulations in some States are starkly lacking when compared with regulations found in other States. Some States have no regulations on the use of deadly force by police, others have regulations that are so vague as to be useless, and some States do have laws that spell out deadly force situations while making clear the intent of protecting both police and citizens. The paper suggests that the most effective regulations a State can adopt about the use of deadly force must include several elements: (1) police officers may use deadly force in self- or third-person protection from equally deadly force; (2) police may use deadly force when necessary to terminate only violent, life-threatening felonies; and (3) police may not fire warning shots, save for the most unusual situations as decided upon by careful consideration. In addition, police may use deadly force only after a clear command to stop and only in cases of murder, arson, rape, or robbery. A State's basic approach to deadly physical force should be as a means to stop felons rather than to kill them. Footnotes are provided.