Transaction Search Form: please type in any of the fields below.
Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 8:03 pm
Time: 8:03 pm
Results for police use of force (canada)
6 results foundAuthor: MacAlister, David Title: Police-Involved Deaths: The Failure of Self-Investigation Summary: Police-involved deaths have attracted considerable media and public attention in recent years. Few issues involving the conduct of government are of such significance as those arising in this context. In order for the government to maintain legitimacy, there must be clear and effective oversight of such matters to maintain public confidence in the government in general, the criminal justice system more particularly, and especially in the police. A 2009 Angus Reid poll found that, amongst British Columbians, 61 percent of those surveyed indicated their confidence in the RCMP had declined (CTV News, 2009). This decrease in confidence followed on the heels of a number of incidents involving alleged police wrongdoing, including several incidents in which individuals died in police custody. This report focuses on deaths in actual police custody. However, some cases involve similar issues although the individual is not in actual custody. For example, Frank Paul was not in actual police custody at the time of his death, yet his death after being deposited and abandoned in an alley by police clearly merits attention in the same context as deaths that actually arise in police custody. When the police take individuals under their charge, they are required to provide them with an adequate level of care. Details: Vancouver, BC: B.C. Civil Liberties Association, 2010(?). 103p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 14, 2011 at: http://www.bccla.org/othercontent/Police_involved_deaths.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Canada URL: http://www.bccla.org/othercontent/Police_involved_deaths.pdf Shelf Number: 120760 Keywords: Deaths in CustodyPolice MisconductPolice Use of Force (Canada) |
Author: Leyton-Brown, Ken Title: Understanding the Circumstances Surrounding the Use of Firearms by Police Officers that result in Death or Serious Injury to a Subject in the Community: A Literature Review Summary: The study of police use of force, and especially the use of deadly force, has been dominated by American researchers, whose interest developed primarily in response to violence associated with the civil rights movement and anti-Vietnam War movement in the United States. The increasing power and reach of news media (and the entertainment industry) ensured that this interest soon spread to other English-speaking parts of the world, especially when sparked by local provocations such as particularly notorious incidents of police use of force or perceptions of high numbers of civilian deaths. Studies have now been undertaken in a number of jurisdictions, and a body of sound research is forming. This literature review is a focused meta-analysis on the extant literature concerning the topics outlined in the objectives: the factors associated with the police discharge of firearms that result in death or serious injury to the subject, and the best practices incorporated to reduce the likelihood of these events occurring. Literature specific to the Canadian context was very limited. Most of the available research in this field was conducted in the U.S.A. a location originally omitted from this review. The authors are aware of the possible cultural issues that can arise with the inclusion of research based in areas that might be significantly different than that of Saskatchewan: specifically, very large urban centers in the United States. However, it was deemed necessary to expand the review to include literature from the U.S.A, given its overall contribution to the literature in general, as well as the observation that much of the US-based research was cited as foundational to research conducted in other locations. Early work, especially in the 1970s and 1980s, sought to identify factors that would help explain police use of excessive force and use of deadly force whether excessive or not, and to use this to knowledge to change practice and policy in ways that would reduce the inappropriate or undesirable use of force. A number of early studies appeared to produce promising results, with the consequence that a number of officer characteristics, suspect/opponent characteristics, and situational characteristics were identified and came to be widely accepted as crucial; these were soon joined by a range of organizational characteristics, extending from police culture to policies and procedures. However, the confidence of those days gradually evaporated, as early results proved not to be robust – i.e. were not duplicated in subsequent studies – and methodological weaknesses in many of the foundational studies became apparent – either because of the recognition of design flaws in earlier research or because of the over-reliance on bivariate analysis, rather than on multivariate analysis, in those same studies (and, indeed, in social science research generally during that period). The result was that many widely-accepted truths were revisited, and by the 1990s many of them had been if not discarded, at least cast into doubt. The era of re-thinking has, however, produced a better understanding of how complex use of force incidents are, and the need for more rigorously designed programs of research in future. Recent research has identified comparatively few officer characteristics as relevant to use of deadly force, and have eliminated such likely candidates as race and ethnicity. Very interesting is the finding that training really works – which is why, for example, race is not a factor in police use of deadly force and why the handling of “domestic” calls (always potentially explosive) does not lead to more fatalities – and this suggests that additional training initiatives, targeted at reducing officer surprise and acceleration in use of force and at encouraging deceleration in the use of force, has the potential to result in fewer and less serious use of force incidents generally. The existence of a class of officer that is prone to the use of force suggests that more effective screening of applicants and monitoring of serving officers is needed. Work in the area of suspect/opponent characteristics has shown, not surprisingly, that armed and physically aggressive people are more likely to provoke police use of force. Of greater interest, with respect to reducing use of force, are two other groups: the first is those whose demeanour alone is seen by officers as objectionable, and who are for that reason alone more likely to be targets of use of force. The second is the potentially very large group of people who by reason of mental impairment or as a result of use of alcohol or drugs are more likely to be targets of use of force, or who may actually seek to be targets of use of force. It would appear that purpose-designed training initiatives could go some way toward addressing problems in dealing with these two groups. Study of situational characteristics shows that the use of force, including use of deadly force, is more likely in some types of situation than in others: specifically, this is true of arrests, but more generally is it true of any situation that results in an element of surprise or one in which an officer does not feel in “control”. The success of training in reducing the frequency and amount of force used when dealing with domestic complaints suggests that training can be of help in other areas as well. Defining what it means to be in control of a situation is also important. Serious study of incidents that do not result in use of force – rather than focussing only on incidents that do – is likely to suggest better training methods, and procedures that are less likely to lead to use of force. Research shows that organizational characteristics are very important determinants of use of force, and are amenable to change. Factors of interest that have been identified within this large category range from aspects of police culture, including such things as an internal culture that excessively values physical assertiveness and bravery, and discourages giving reports that are unfavourable to fellow officers, through to policies and procedures, including such things as the need for better reporting and investigation of incidents of use of force, careful consideration of the desirability (or not) of adopting use of force continua and of how they are used, and even the potential problems when employing single officer patrols. Based on the information uncovered in the literature review there are a number of possible avenues for research: (1) A trend analysis of the application of deadly force by officers in Canada (on-going), (2) A review of the independent investigations undertaken by the province of Saskatchewan into officer-involved shootings in Saskatchewan, (3) A review of Coroner’s inquests into deadly force incidents in Western Canada, and (4) An examination of the policies and procedures in Saskatchewan surrounding the use of force by officers. Each of these proposed studies has the potential to further the knowledge about the subject matter and help inform policy decisions. It should be noted that the following recommendations are limited by virtue of the limited awareness of authors of this literature review as to what data sources are available at the current time within the Saskatchewan context. Details: Regina, SK, Canada: Saskatchewan Department of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing, 2011. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 30, 2011 at: http://www.cpsp.gov.sk.ca/LiteraturereviewAugust20.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Canada URL: http://www.cpsp.gov.sk.ca/LiteraturereviewAugust20.pdf Shelf Number: 122957 Keywords: FirearmsPolice Use of Force (Canada) |
Author: British Columbia. Canada. Braidwood Commission on Conducted Energy Weapon Use Title: Restoring Public Confidence: Restricting the Use of Conducted Energy Weapons in British Columbia Summary: Conducted energy weapons, for the past decade, have been used widely by law enforcement agencies in British Columbia, across Canada, and internationally. They are designed to achieve control over a subject through pain compliance (when used in push-stun mode) or through neuromuscular incapacitation (when used in probe mode). In October 2007, at the Vancouver International Airport, an officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police used a conducted energy weapon (CEW) against Mr. Robert Dziekanski, who died within minutes. Public reaction to this incident was immediate and intense and, at a more general level, concern was expressed about the deployment and use of conducted energy weapons by policing bodies in British Columbia. In response to this public concern, the provincial government appointed me to conduct two separate inquiries under the new Public Inquiry Act. I was appointed as sole Commissioner on February 15, 2008, under the Public Inquiry Act to conduct a study commission to inquire into and report on the use of conducted energy weapons by provincially regulated law enforcement agencies, the Sheriff Services Division and the Corrections Branch. My terms of reference (set out in Appendix A) were to: Review the current rules, policies and procedures applicable to constables, sheriffs and correctional officers respecting their use of conducted energy weapons, including their training and re-training; Review research, studies, reports and evaluations respecting the safety and effectiveness of conducted energy weapons when used in policing and law enforcement; and Make recommendations respecting the appropriate use of conducted energy weapons, including appropriate training and re-training. The Commission convened for 15 days of informal, non-adversarial public forums in May and June 2008, at which 61 people made presentations. They represented a wide range of commercial, engineering, medical, mental health, law enforcement, civilian oversight, political, non-governmental, and personal interests. Contemporaneously, Commission researchers explored a variety of medical, scientific, legal, and policy issues, and conducted a detailed empirical analysis of every BC law enforcement agency’s use of conducted energy weapons. Details: British Columbia, Canada: Braidwood Commission on Conducted Energy Weapon Use, 2009. 556p. Source: Braidwood Commission on Conducted Energy Weapon Use Report: Internet Resource: Accessed February 12, 2012 at http://www.braidwoodinquiry.ca/report/P1_pdf/BraidwoodInquiry-Phase1Report-2009-06-18.zip Year: 2009 Country: Canada URL: http://www.braidwoodinquiry.ca/report/P1_pdf/BraidwoodInquiry-Phase1Report-2009-06-18.zip Shelf Number: 124005 Keywords: Conducted Energy WeaponsPolice Use of Force (Canada)Stun GunsTasers |
Author: British Columbia. Canada. Braidwood Commission on the Death of Robert Dziekanski. Title: Why? The Robert Dziekanski Tragedy Summary: In October 2007, at the Vancouver International Airport, an officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (“RCMP”) used a conducted energy weapon against Mr. Robert Dziekanski, who, after being subdued and handcuffed, died within minutes. Public reaction to this incident was immediate and intense, and at a more general level, concern was expressed about the deployment and use of conducted energy weapons by policing bodies in British Columbia. In response to this public concern, the provincial government appointed me in February 2008 to conduct two separate inquiries under the Public Inquiry Act. The first inquiry report, entitled Restoring Public Confidence: Restricting the Use of Conducted Energy Weapons in British Columbia, included recommendations respecting the appropriate use of conducted energy weapons, including appropriate training and re-training. It was released on July 23, 2009. This second inquiry report deals with the death of Mr. Dziekanski. My Terms of Reference (set out in Appendix A) were: to conduct hearings, in or near the City of Vancouver, into the circumstances of and relating to Mr. Dziekanski’s death; to make a complete report of the events and circumstances of and relating to Mr. Dziekanski’s death, not limited to the actual cause of death; to make recommendations the commissioner considers necessary and appropriate; and to submit a report to the Attorney General on or before a date to be determined by the Attorney General in consultation with the Commissioner. The Commission convened 61 days of evidentiary hearings at which 91 witnesses testified under oath or affirmation, followed by five days of closing oral submissions. Official participant status was granted to 16 individuals and organizations, all of whom were represented by counsel. Three of the 91 witnesses were senior employees of the Canada Border Services Agency and the Vancouver Airport Authority, who explained their policies, practices, and procedures respecting the handling of, and services provided to, arriving international passengers, especially those who do not speak English, and what changes have been made since October 2007. This report offers recommendations the use of conducted energy weapon use by police services in British Columbia. Details: British Columbia, Canada: Braidwood Commission on the Death of Robery Dziekanski, 2009. 556p. Source: Braidwood Commission on the Death of Robert Dziekanski: Internet Resource: Accessed February 12, 2012 at http://www.braidwoodinquiry.ca/report/P2_pdf/BraidwoodInquiry-Phase2Report-2010-06-17.zip Year: 2009 Country: Canada URL: http://www.braidwoodinquiry.ca/report/P2_pdf/BraidwoodInquiry-Phase2Report-2010-06-17.zip Shelf Number: 124006 Keywords: Conducted Energy WeaponsPolice Use of Force (Canada)Stun GunsTasers |
Author: Iacobucci, Frank Title: Police Encounters with People in Crisis Summary: 1. On August 28, 2013, Chief of Police William Blair of the Toronto Police Service (TPS) requested that I undertake an independent review of the use of lethal force by the TPS, with a particular focus on encounters between police and what I refer to in this Report as "people in crisis." 2. By a person in crisis I mean a member of the public whose behaviour brings them into contact with police either because of an apparent need for urgent care within the mental health system, or because they are otherwise experiencing a mental or emotional crisis involving behaviour that is sufficiently erratic, threatening or dangerous that the police are called in order to protect the person or those around them. The term "person in crisis" includes those who are mentally ill as well as people who would be described by police as "emotionally disturbed." B. Mandate 3. My mandate as given to me by Chief Blair was to conduct an independent review of "the policies, practices and procedures of, and the services provided by, the TPS with respect to the use of lethal force or potentially lethal force, in particular in connection with encounters with persons who are or may be emotionally disturbed, mentally disturbed or cognitively impaired." 4. I was instructed by Chief Blair that the hallmark of my Review was intended to be its independence, and that the end result of the Review was to be a report, to be made public, setting out recommendations that will be used as a blueprint for the TPS in dealing with this serious and difficult issue in the future. I elaborate on the issue of independence in Chapter 2. 5. My mandate included reviewing the following topics: (i) TPS policies, procedures and practices; (ii) TPS training, and training at the Ontario Police College; (iii) equipment used by the TPS; (iv) psychological assessments and other evaluation of TPS police officers and officer candidates; (v) supervision and oversight; (vi) the role of the Mobile Crisis Intervention Teams (MCIT) currently employed by the TPS; (vii) the role of the TPS Emergency Task Force (ETF); (viii) best practices and precedents from major police forces internationally (in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and other jurisdictions) (ix) available studies, data and research; and (x) other related matters falling within the scope of the independent review. Details: Toronto: Toronto Police Service, 2014. 413p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 6, 2014 at: http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/publications/files/reports/police_encounters_with_people_in_crisis_2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Canada URL: http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/publications/files/reports/police_encounters_with_people_in_crisis_2014.pdf Shelf Number: 132913 Keywords: Mentally Ill OffendersPolice Policies and PracticesPolice TrainingPolice Use of Force (Canada)Policing Procedures |
Author: Murphy, Joshua John Title: Beyond a Split-Second: An Exploratory Study of Police Use of Force and Use of Force Training in Canada Summary: The authority to use force, including lethal force is a defining feature of the police profession. A police officer's decision to use force carries potentially significant consequences for all involved and is arguably the most heavily scrutinized aspect of modern police work, despite its rare use. Situations involving the use of force are often characterized by a rapidly evolving scenario, complex environment, considerable uncertainty, and a potentially high degree of fear. These factors make it extremely challenging for officers to decide when and how to act. The high stakes nature of police use of force events and the level of scrutiny that the use of force attracts places a premium on the quality of training that officers are given, both in terms of content and application. Yet, in spite of the importance ascribed to training, the research in this area is limited, particularly from a Canadian perspective. What is known about use of force training comes largely from research and experience in the U.S.A., a significantly different policing environment than Canada. Using a qualitative research framework, this thesis seeks to fill the gap in Canadian use of force research and shed light on recruit and in-service training that is given to police officers. Using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with ten Canadian police academy and department-based use of force instructors, this study explores the factors involved in police use of force situations and how use of force training prepares officers for use of force events in Canada. The findings indicate that while current police training is evolving to better prepare officers for the realities of police use of force encounters, it is nonetheless limited by a number of factors. These factors are identified and discussed noting the implications for police services, policing scholars, and police oversight bodies. Details: Burnaby, BC: Simon Fraser University, 2014. 130p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed March 12, 2015 at: http://summit.sfu.ca/item/14482 Year: 2014 Country: Canada URL: http://summit.sfu.ca/item/14482 Shelf Number: 134912 Keywords: Decision MakingPolice BehaviorPolice TrainingPolice Use of Force (Canada) |