TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring patterns of taser use by the police
T2 - An officer-level analysis
AU - Ready, Justin T.
AU - White, Michael
PY - 2011/11
Y1 - 2011/11
N2 - The empirical research on the TASER and other conducted energy devices (CEDs) has been expanding as police departments increasingly adopt them as a force alternative. To date, a number of studies have examined the circumstances in which they are used, their effectiveness in the field, and physiological effects. Much of the research in criminal justice has focused on incident-level health and effectiveness outcomes. Also, a growing number of researchers have begun to study organizational-level changes in policy and management that have emerged as a result of the introduction of this new technology. However, few studies have examined officer-level patterns and variations in TASER use. Although it is important to understand how situational contingencies and departmental policies shape police–citizen encounters, it may also benefit the policing field to understand whether non-users, users and high-frequency users of the TASER differ in meaningful ways. That is the focus of this study. This paper draws on a 2009 survey of 580 police officers who carry the TASER across 10 police agencies in northeast USA. Research findings and policy implications are discussed.
AB - The empirical research on the TASER and other conducted energy devices (CEDs) has been expanding as police departments increasingly adopt them as a force alternative. To date, a number of studies have examined the circumstances in which they are used, their effectiveness in the field, and physiological effects. Much of the research in criminal justice has focused on incident-level health and effectiveness outcomes. Also, a growing number of researchers have begun to study organizational-level changes in policy and management that have emerged as a result of the introduction of this new technology. However, few studies have examined officer-level patterns and variations in TASER use. Although it is important to understand how situational contingencies and departmental policies shape police–citizen encounters, it may also benefit the policing field to understand whether non-users, users and high-frequency users of the TASER differ in meaningful ways. That is the focus of this study. This paper draws on a 2009 survey of 580 police officers who carry the TASER across 10 police agencies in northeast USA. Research findings and policy implications are discussed.
KW - Conducted energy device (CED)
KW - Less-lethal weapon
KW - Police use of force
KW - TASER
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84927563854&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84927563854&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/0735648X.2011.609741
DO - 10.1080/0735648X.2011.609741
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84927563854
SN - 0735-648X
VL - 34
SP - 190
EP - 204
JO - Journal of Crime and Justice
JF - Journal of Crime and Justice
IS - 3
ER -