Use of Force and Coercion SOC 351 Exam 1

Deadly force

highest level of force that is capable of killing a suspect; purpose is to incapacitate suspect who presents immediate and potentially deadly threat to another person

Inappropriate force

the same as excessive force; when an officer uses more force than is necessary to control a situation

Excessive force

violence of a degree that is more than justified to effect a legitimate police function

Coercion

use of force to get someone to obey

Deception

an attempt to make someone believe something that is not true

Less lethal weapons

weapons designed to disable or immobilize instead of kill suspects

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Decision that psychologically coercive techniques interfered with constitutional ideas of fair play; police are required to read Miranda rights to suspects before questioning

Defense-of-life policy

restrict the use of deadly force situations to those in which the officers or another persons life is in jeopardy or to prevent escape of a person who is very dangerous

Extralegal police aggression

Whenever a police officer engages in behavior that is intended to injure someone physically or psychologically, but serves no legitimate police function

Feeling-felon rule

Authorized use of deadly force when attempting to apprehend individuals who were feeling from a suspected serious crime

Police brutality

difficult to define because it means different things to different people; some say it’s excessive force but to a more extreme degree, including violence that doesn’t support a legitimate police function

De-escalation

techniques include use of communication and tactics designed to provide officers with time when dealing with combative suspects

What is the “use of force”

Legal authority to: maintain order, demand compliance, detain individuals, use weapons, and if necessary, inflict violence

How is the “use of force” shaped by police culture and training

Police have this authority to restrain or subdue individuals, including potential to inflict violence when necessary to maintain order to protect themselves or others and enforce the law

How is “use of force” justified by democracy?

It’s justified by “reasonable force” based on a perceived threat levels in a given situation

Why is it important to ask questions about “use of force” within a democracy?

raises concerns about potential abuses of power, disproportionate impact, and balance between safety and rights

What does Rohberg et al. Mean when they say that “police authority is constrained by democratic ideas of fair play?

There’s tension between respecting rights and democratic processes while also protecting citizens and preventing crime

What is the tension between ideals of due process and police orientation towards “ends”?

Police tend to be end oriented and they want to accomplish the goal even if that means the use of illegitimate force

Continuum of force

Set of guidelines for law enforcement officers to use when deciding how much force to use in a given situation

Continuum of force described by Skolnick and Fyfe

1. Mere presence

2. Verbalization

3. Command voice

4. Firm grips

5. Pain compliance

6. Impact techniques

7. Deadly force

Basics of Rodney King Case

• 1991

• Stopped for speeding but didn’t immediately cooperate

• Beat w/ batons

• 27 officers stood by and witness this, LAPD made racist remarks and justified this act of police brutality

• Was recorded by bystander and broadcasted nationally

• 4 officers put on trail; all not found guilty

• This caused riots that killed 54 people

What conditions or circumstances are most associated with the use of deadly force?

Individual or situational factors: officers individual perception of threat

environment and department variations: community and neighborhood, department values, practices of political leaders

racial considerations: typically minorities, stereotypes heighten police fears

changes in law and policy