Frequency and Use-of-Force Polices

How frequent was reported force in police-public contacts in 1996 and 2020?

1% in 1996 and 2% in 2020.

How many police-public contacts occur annually?

Approximately 54 million.

Why can use of force have a major public impact despite low reported frequency?

It is highly visible, high-profile incidents shape public perceptions, and it is an exercise of state coercive authority

What did Terrill, Paoline, and Ingram (2011) study?

Police use-of-force policies and outcomes across law enforcement agencies.

How many agencies were surveyed and how many responded in the 2011 study?

1,083 agencies were surveyed; 662 responded, a 61.1% response rate.

What did more than 80% of responding departments report using?

Some form of use-of-force continuum.

How many different force-continuum configurations did the researchers identify?

123 configurations, ranging from three to nine levels

What does the Massachusetts example show about force levels?

Five levels, from compliant behavior to deadly threats.