Police use of force

Ian T. Adams, Scott M. Mourtgos and Geoffrey P. Alpert

Chapter 31 in Research Handbook on Violent Crime and Society, 2025, pp 511-526 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Police use force to protect themselves and others and enforce the law, but when improperly used, this power can lead to significant harm and undermine public trust. The complexities of police use of force are examined through key theories, practical advancements and empirical studies. The Threat Assessment Model explains how officers determine appropriate force levels by assessing ability, opportunity and intent. Authority Maintenance Theory highlights the balance of power in police-citizen interactions and underscores the importance of maintaining authority. Empirical studies reveal how factors like officer characteristics, suspect behavior and situational context influence use-of-force decisions. Technological advancements, including body-worn cameras and non-lethal weapons, have reshaped police practices and influenced public perceptions. High-profile cases, like those of George Floyd and Tyre Nichols, show the potential severe consequences of improper use of force. Ongoing empirical research is crucial to improving police practices and enhancing theoretical frameworks.

Keywords: Police; Use of force; Threat assessment; Technology; Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035317851
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.elgaronline.com/doi/10.4337/9781035317868.00042 (application/pdf)
Our link check indicates that this URL is bad, the error code is: 403 Forbidden

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:22616_31

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.e-elgar.com

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Jack Sweeney ().