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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for stun guns
27 results foundAuthor: Canada. Commission for Public Complaints Against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Title: RCMP Use of the Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW): Final Report, Including Recommendations for Immediate Implementation Summary: The increasing reliance by the RCMP upon the conducted energy weapon has generated significant expressions of public concern. This report presents a systematic review of RCMP policies and practices following its adoption of the conducted energy weapon. Details: Ottawa: Commission for Public Complaints Against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 2008. 78p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: Canada URL: Shelf Number: 115540 Keywords: Complaints Against the PolicePolice Use of ForceStun GunsTasers |
Author: Queensland Police Service Title: Review of Taser Policy, Training, and Monitoring and Review Practices Summary: This report presents a review of taser training and operational policy in Queensland. The review found that the current policy addressed most of the risks identifed during the review. The review presents a number of recommendations to designed to improve the policy and procedures that are already in place, as well as officer training in the use of tasers, and the monitoring process of such use. Details: Brisbane: Queensland Police and the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission, 2009. 66p. Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 10, 2010 at the following website: http://www.police.qld.gov.au Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: http://www.police.qld.gov.au Shelf Number: 116526 Keywords: Policing (Queensland)Stun GunsTasersWeapons, Police Use of |
Author: Taylor, Bruce Title: Comparing Safety Outcomes in Police Use-of-Force Cases for Law Enforcement Agencies That Have Deployed Conducted Energy Devices and a Matched Comparison Group That Have Not: A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation Summary: How law enforcement agencies (LEAs) manage the use-of-force by officers is perhaps one of the most important tasks that they will undertake. One weapon that has been advanced as a way to reduce injuries for officers and suspects is the Conducted Energy Device (CED). The purpose of our project, conducted from late 2006 to 2008, was to produce scientifically valid results that will inform LEA executives’ decisions regarding CED use. The goal of our study was to produce practical information that can help LEAs establish guidelines that assist in the effective design of CED deployment programs that support increased safety for officers and citizens. We conducted one of the first quasi-experiments to compare LEAs with CED deployment (n=7) to a set of matched LEAs (n=6) that do not deploy CEDs on a variety of safety outcomes, controlling for a variety of incident factors (force used by officer, time frame of incident, suspect race/gender/age, suspect resistant behavior, and suspect weapon use) and agency-level factors (agency policy on CEDs, size/density of LEA, and population density for jurisdiction). For the LEAs that deployed CEDs, we collected two years of data before CED deployment and two years of data after CED deployment. For the non-CED sites, we collected four years of data over a similar period. Overall, we found that the CED sites were associated with improved safety outcomes when compared to a group of matched non-CED sites on six of nine safety measures, including reductions in (1) officer injuries, (2–3) suspect injuries and severe injuries, (4–5) officers and suspects receiving injuries requiring medical attention, and (6) suspects receiving an injury that resulted in the suspect being taken to a hospital or other medical facility. (We refer to this last category as “hospitalization,” although we have no data on the extent to which officers or suspects who went to a hospital or other medical facility were admitted and stayed overnight, as opposed to simply receiving an evaluation or treatment and being released.) Also within CED agencies, in some cases the actual use of a CED by an officer is associated with improved safety outcomes compared to other less-lethal weapons. For five of the eight comparisons, the cases where an officer used a CED were associated with the lowest or second lowest rate of injuries, injuries requiring medical attention, or injuries officer was taken to a medical facility such as hospital or medical clinic for treatment of an injury due to a use-of-force incident requiring “hospitalization” (see comment in previous paragraph). There were no differences between the CED and the non-CED sites on the outcomes of the number of suspect deaths, officer severe injuries, and officer injuries requiring hospitalization. The evidence from our study suggests that CEDs can be an effective weapon in helping prevent or minimize physical struggles in use-of-force cases. LEAs should consider the utility of the CED as a way to avoid up-close combative situations and reduce injuries to officers and suspects. Details: Washington, DC: Police Executive Research Forum, 2009. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 23, 2010 at: http://www.policeforum.org/upload/CED%20outcomes_193971463_10232009143958.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.policeforum.org/upload/CED%20outcomes_193971463_10232009143958.pdf Shelf Number: 116527 Keywords: Nonlethal WeaponsPolice Use of ForcePolice WeaponsStun GunsTaser Guns |
Author: Collins, Nicole Title: Operational Evaluation of the New Zealand Taser Trial Summary: The NZ Police Taser trial was conducted from 1 September 2006 to 31 August 2007 in the Police Districts of Auckland, Waitematā, Counties Manukau and Wellington. This arose from a review initiated by the NZ Commissioner of Police following the fatal shooting of Stephen Wallace in 2000. This review examined less lethal weapons options for managing violent individuals to ensure tactics and equipment are the most effective, and least likely to endanger the safety of police, the public and offenders. A conducted energy weapon, or electro muscular incapacitation device was identified as a potentially relevant option. Prior to the start of the trial police undertook a literature review about the use of electro muscular incapacitation devices by police agencies, and the scientific and medical research about the impact of these devices. Standard Operating Procedures were developed to guide the trial and the use of Tasers, and a comprehensive staff training package was developed based on international good practice. District Device Coordinators were appointed in each of the trial areas to oversee the implementation of the trial and to conduct audits of Taser use. An external Medical Advisory Group was established to review the medical records of those who were exposed to a Taser discharge and to provide expert medical advice on areas of risk. Police also engaged with various organisations and individuals about the trial. New Zealand Police evaluated the Taser trial, with the overall aim of assessing the use of Tasers in an operational environment in order to identify key issues about use and effectiveness of the device, the potential benefits and risks to staff and public safety and public opinion on police Taser use. The evaluation, conducted by a combined internal and external evaluation team, used a wide range of qualitative and quantitative data including: international literature; incident and injury data from the Tactical Options Report database; incident data from police Taser discharge files, offence information from the National Intelligence Application database, a survey and in-depth interviews with officers; a national survey of 1200 people; media coverage; and the external report provided by the Medical Advisory Group. This evaluation report provides detailed analysis of each of these data sources. Details: Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Police, 2008. 192p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 1, 2010 at: https://admin.police.govt.nz/resources/2008/operational-evaluation-of-nz-taser-trial/operational-evaluation-of-nz-taser-trial-2008.pdf Year: 2008 Country: New Zealand URL: https://admin.police.govt.nz/resources/2008/operational-evaluation-of-nz-taser-trial/operational-evaluation-of-nz-taser-trial-2008.pdf Shelf Number: 119713 Keywords: Less Lethal WeaponsPolice Use of ForceStun GunsTasers |
Author: Bobb, Merrick Title: A Bad Night at Powell Library: The Events of November 14, 2006 Summary: At the behest of UCLA Acting Chancellor Norman Abrams, PARC was engaged to investigate a November 2006 incident in which the UCLA campus police repeatedly tasered a UCLA student who refused to produce his student identification after hours in the main campus library. PARC conducted a seven-month investigation of the facts, including exhaustive research on the Taser itself, on the policies and practices of other universities and police departments regarding use of the Taser, and on the best and recommended practices regarding the Taser formulated by the leading authorities and experts on the question, including model policies drafted by police organizations such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). Details: Los Angeles, CA: Police Assessment Resource Center, 2007. 117p. Source: Iinternet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2010 at: http://www.parc.info/client_files/UCLA/UCLA%20Taser%20Report%20August%20Final.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.parc.info/client_files/UCLA/UCLA%20Taser%20Report%20August%20Final.pdf Shelf Number: 119940 Keywords: Campus PoliceColleges and UniversitiesPolice Use of ForceStun GunsTasers |
Author: Nicholson, Sarah Title: Taser Trap: Is Victoria Falling for It? Summary: The Federation of Community Legal Centres has long argued that Tasers are not a panacea for police use of lethal or near lethal force. Death or serious injury in Victoria in connection with Taser use is a real possibility. In particular, there are real risks of death or serious injury associated with Taser use on vulnerable groups or in particular situations. These vulnerable groups include people with mental illness, people with pre-existing health issues and people who are drug and alcohol affected. Evidence from overseas, and increasingly from Australia, suggests that Tasers are prone to misuse and ‘usage creep’ – the term used to describe when the use of a device extends beyond the boundaries for use set by policies and procedures. We have already seen Victoria Police ‘usage creep’ in connection with capsicum spray and there is substantial evidence of ‘usage creep’ in other jurisdictions in relation to police Taser use. We know that use of lethal force by police can be avoided in many instances with tactical communication, non-violent intervention and other lower use of force strategies. This has been emphasised in reports reviewing police shootings in Victoria, including reviews undertaken by the Office of Police Integrity and reviews commissioned by Victoria Police. It is not a simplistic question of whether someone would prefer to be Tased than shot. In many cases, incidents can be resolved without the use of any force whatsoever. Victoria Police was first authorised to use Tasers in 2003. Until recently, Taser use by Victoria Police was limited to two specialist units, the Special Operations Group and Critical Incident Response Teams. On 1 July 2010 however, under a 12-month pilot, Tasers were issued to general duties police in two regional areas of Victoria, Bendigo and Morwell. The decision to extend Taser use to general duties officers was made in the face of comprehensive analyses questioning the safety of Tasers and reports criticising police use of force in Victoria. Victoria Police and the Victorian Government have largely made decisions about use of force issues, including decisions on Taser use, without seeking public input and without providing the public with clear, evidence-based reasoning for decisions. This contrasts with other jurisdictions both overseas and in Australia where police, governments and police oversight bodies have acknowledged the strong public interest in police Taser use and have facilitated public debate through the public release of Taser reviews and relevant police operating procedures. In the absence of transparency and accountability by Victoria Police around these issues, the Federation and its member community legal centres sought to make public key documents around Tasers and the use force, by requesting information from Victoria Police and by using procedures under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic). Over the past three years, we have obtained: · data showing how Tasers have been used by Victoria Police specialist units; · copies of Victoria Police Taser use policies; and · documents relating to Victoria Police’s management of use of force issues and decisions about Taser use by Victoria Police. The first section of this report provides background information on Tasers and issues around their safety and use by police. The second section of this report analyses Victoria Police policies relating to Taser use. Our analysis shows that Victoria Police Taser policies are inconsistent and policies for specialist units do not take into account known risk factors and do not comply with internationally accepted best practice for Taser use and relevant human rights considerations. The third section of this report analyses data showing how Tasers have been used by Victoria Police specialist units. Details: Melbourne: Federation of Community Legal Centres - Victoria, 2010. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 4, 2010 at: http://www.communitylaw.org.au/cb_pages/federation_reports.php Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.communitylaw.org.au/cb_pages/federation_reports.php Shelf Number: 120185 Keywords: Police Use of ForceStun GunsTasers (Australia) |
Author: Griffin-Valade, LaVonne Title: Police Taser Use: Incidents Generally Resolved, But Some Practices and Policies Could Be Improved Summary: In the few interactions between the police and the public that involve the use of force, the Portland Police Bureau allows officers to use a variety of techniques and tools. Among these are conducted energy devices, referred to as “Tasers” in this report. Tasers and other less lethal tools allow officers to control situations with a far lower risk of death or serious injury than when a gun is used, and without requiring personal contact with the subject. This report presents an audit of the Portland Police Bureau’s policies and practices for using Tasers. The review found: Taser use was mostly effective in resolving incidents in a sample of 50 cases from 2009, although officers often used more than one cycle; Portland Police followed Bureau Taser policy in several key areas, but fell short on meeting some supervisory and documentation requirements; and Portland Police Taser policy is largely in line with other cities and with model policy recommendations developed by a nationally-recognized professional police association. Details: Portland, OR: Office of the City Auditor, 2010. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Report #386: Accessed November 27, 2010 at: http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?a=326891&c=51639 Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?a=326891&c=51639 Shelf Number: 120288 Keywords: Police Use of ForceStun GunsTasers (Portland, Oregon) |
Author: Western Australia. Corruption and Crime Commission Title: The Use of Taser Weapons by Western Australia Police Summary: A Taser weapon is a weapon carried by Western Australia Police (WAPOL) officers which uses a high voltage, low power charge of electricity to either induce involuntary muscle contractions that cause temporary incapacitation or to cause pain. Since 2007, WAPOL officers have used the weapon as an alternative use of force to minimise injury to themselves or others when confronted with potentially violent situations. Taser weapon use is governed by a policy which dictates that Taser weapons are not to be used for compliance. The threshold for use stipulates the focus on preventing injury (to both officers, and to the public). The Commission examined Taser weapon use in Western Australia from 2007 to 2009. This examination consisted of an analysis of complaints and matters notified to the Commission, WAPOL data from 2007 to 2009, and a detailed analysis of WAPOL Use of Force reports between July and September 2009. The majority of Taser weapon use by WAPOL officers is appropriate even though the WAPOL policy threshold for Taser weapon use is one of the lowest in Australia. A low threshold means WAPOL officers are authorised to use a Taser weapon in more situations than other police in Australia. Taser weapons have become the force option of “choice” in Western Australia, resulting in significant decreases in the use of OC spray, handcuffs and empty hand techniques. Taser weapon use increased from 49% in 2007 to 74% in 2008 and declined to 65% in 2009. This represents an overall increase in Taser weapon use of 25%. Most Taser weapon use occurred on weekends between 9:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. The most significant trend was the increase of Taser weapon deployment against subjects who were physically resisting arrest, increasing from 22% in 2007 to 43% in 2009. The use of firearms has doubled since the introduction of Taser weapons, from 6% of all uses of force in 2007 to 12% in 2009. Given that Taser weapons were expected to reduce the number of situations where officers were involved in physical altercations, it was expected that injuries would decrease overall. This has not occurred. The number of hospitalisations of WAPOL officers between 2007 and 2009 remained relatively stable at under 2% of incidents. Injuries to officers increased from 9% of all use of force incidents in 2007 to 12% in 2008 and 11% in 2009. Generally speaking the injuries received by police officers were minor, including bruises, abrasions or minor lacerations and muscle sprains. In all cases these injuries resulted from an assault by another person or from struggling with a person. Police officers actually received more injuries in Taser weapon-related incidents than in non-Taser weapon incidents (17% of cases compared to 15% of cases). Taser weapons are an effective force option in situations where there is a real risk of serious injury to an officer or other person, however there is potential for misuse. There is also a real and significant risk that Taser weapons will be subject to mission creep, that is, that a Taser weapon will be used in situations where it was not intended to be used and where such use is potentially excessive or improper. Between July and September 2009, potential misuse was involved in 7% of Taser weapon incidents. Of these, 38% involved using the Taser weapon as a threat. The remaining 62% involved potentially improper or excessive Taser weapon deployment. International and national research shows Taser weapon use can result in death in certain circumstances. Death or serious injury can be caused by the fact that a Taser weapon causes incapacitation (leading to, for example, death by drowning or falling); by the ignition of flammable substances; or as a result of ventricular fibrillation and/or asphyxiation. While no deaths in Western Australia have been directly attributed to Taser weapon use, the risks of injury and death, and of mission creep, are potentially increased when a Taser weapon is used on the young, the elderly, people with an existing health condition, drug users and the mentally ill. Notwithstanding the high percentage of appropriate use, the Commission’s analysis of Taser weapon incidents has led to the identification of misuse of Taser weapons in Western Australia. WAPOL officers are using Taser weapons: (1) for compliance and in other situations in contravention to WAPOL Taser weapon policy, although in most cases this is identified and dealt with appropriately through WAPOL misconduct systems and processes; (2) in situations where such use is potentially improper or excessive, including against people whose level of resistance appears to present only a small chance of harm to officers, and this type of use appears to be increasing; (3) disproportionately against indigenous people, and the proportion of such Taser weapon use is increasing (from 16% of all Taser weapon use in 2007 to 30% in 2009); and (4) against people in high risk groups including individuals with a mental illness, those who are suffering from substance abuse, or those who are otherwise exhibiting signs of extreme psychological distress. In a small proportion of these cases, effective communication and de-escalation techniques are not being utilised prior to the Taser weapon use. [13] The Commission has developed its recommendations after considering current national and international trends and are aimed at: decreasing the misuse of Taser weapons, and the potential for misconduct by WAPOL officers in relation to Taser weapon use; maintaining public confidence in the way WAPOL officers use force to go about their duties; preventing the potentially excessive or improper use of Taser weapons against high risk groups such as indigenous people; people with a mental illness or otherwise suffering from extreme psychological distress; those people with small body mass; and people suffering from serious health conditions; ensuring the continued availability of Taser weapons for the use of WAPOL officers as a means of reducing the likelihood that officers will be killed or seriously injured by the actions of violent and aggressive members of the public; and reducing the likelihood that a fatality will occur in Western Australia as a result of Taser weapon use by a WAPOL officer, and reducing the likelihood that serious injuries will occur as a result of Taser weapon use by a WAPOL officer. Details: Perth: Corruption and Crime Commission, 2010. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 1, 2010 at: http://www.ccc.wa.gov.au/Publications/Reports/Published%20Reports%202010/Full%20Report%20-%20Use%20of%20Taser%20Weapons%20by%20WAPOL.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ccc.wa.gov.au/Publications/Reports/Published%20Reports%202010/Full%20Report%20-%20Use%20of%20Taser%20Weapons%20by%20WAPOL.pdf Shelf Number: 120335 Keywords: Police Use of ForceStun GunsTasers (Western Australia) |
Author: Queensland. Crime and Misconduct Commission Title: Evaluating Taser Reforms: A Review of Queensland Police Service Policy and Practice Summary: Tasers were first introduced by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) in 2002, when they were allocated to the service’s Special Emergency Response Team. Following a trial in 2007–08, the QPS expanded their use into the general policing environment. In June 2009, a 39-year-old man in Brandon, north Queensland, died after being tasered by police. In response, the Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services, the Hon. Neil Roberts MP, initiated a joint QPS–Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) review to ensure that QPS policy, procedures, training and monitoring processes reflected best practice. The review made 27 recommendations intended to improve policy, training and monitoring practices. It was agreed that the recommendations would be treated as interim recommendations for 12 months, subject to continuous monitoring by the QPS and the CMC. Significant policy changes represented in these recommendations included: restricting the use of Tasers to situations where there is a risk of serious injury to a person • prohibiting officers, unless in exceptional circumstances, from deploying Tasers for multiple or prolonged cycles, and against people who are handcuffed or are of particularly small body mass • emphasising the possible link identified in the literature between Taser deployments and death, particularly where multiple and/or prolonged discharges are involved or where the person has underlying health problems, is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or has already been exposed to oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray. These policy changes were also reflected in new training initiatives. In April 2010, the then Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations, the Hon. Cameron Dick MP, asked the CMC to undertake this independent evaluation. To address our terms of reference, we sought to determine: • whether each of the 27 recommendations from the QPS–CMC review has been implemented • what effects the revised policy and training have had on Taser use • how QPS officers used Tasers in the 10 months after the introduction of the revised policy, particularly in relation to risk factors identified in the literature • whether there are any emerging trends in use, including ‘mission creep’ (the tendency for police to, over time, use Tasers in situations for which they were not intended) • what monitoring and continuous improvement processes are in place in the QPS with respect to Tasers • what recent advances have been made in international best practice, and whether there are any gaps in QPS policy and practices. As the first formal review of QPS Taser use since the introduction of the revised policy and training, the CMC regarded this evaluation as a starting point that would provide baseline data for further monitoring and review. Since the QPS would necessarily be the primary source of data in the first instance, we relied mostly on information from a range of QPS sources, including a formal submission, policies, procedures and training materials, consultations with officers, and QPS Taser usage data. We will consult more widely in future reviews of Taser use in the QPS. Possible limitations of the data used in this evaluation include the potential for inaccuracies and incompleteness in the Taser usage data. The recommendations resulting from the evaluation cover a range of areas including: improving aftercare for people subjected to Taser deployment; decreasing Taser use against Indigenous people and individuals from at-risk groups; and enhancing decision making by QPS review panels ensuring QPS policy, training and procedures fully reflect best practice. Details: Brisbane: Crime and Misconduct Commission, 2011. 186p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 29, 2011 at: http://www.cmc.qld.gov.au/data/portal/00000005/content/51149001303357290759.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.cmc.qld.gov.au/data/portal/00000005/content/51149001303357290759.pdf Shelf Number: 121576 Keywords: Nonlethal WeaponsPolice DiscretionPolice Use of ForceStun GunsTasers (Australia) |
Author: Stoughton, Corey Title: Taking Tasers Seriously: The Need for Better Regulation of Stun Guns in New York Summary: Tasers or “stun guns,” deliver up to 50,000 volts of electricity intended to incapacitate their victims. Long lauded as safer alternatives to deadly force, Tasers are in use by 16,000 law enforcement agencies in the U.S.—including 350 in New York State—and have been linked with hundreds of deaths. More than a dozen New Yorkers have died after Taser shocks, some in police custody and others with mental illness whose families turned to law enforcement for help, only to suffer mortal loss. Since February 2004, news reports have documented five deaths after Taser shocks in Suffolk County alone. Scores more across the state have been hurt or humiliated when officers, lacking consistent guidelines and thorough training, deployed Tasers inappropriately. To better identify and understand patterns of Taser use in New York State, the New York Civil Liberties Union analyzed 851 Taser incident reports from eight departments across the state as well as 10 departments’ guidelines for Taser use, obtained through the state Freedom of Information Law and public sources. These records show that officers misuse and overuse these weapons, resorting directly to Tasers rather than less intrusive police tactics to calm, subdue or arrest people they encounter. They also suggest a lack of awareness of the risks of multiple, prolonged shocks; of the particular danger Tasers pose to vulnerable populations; and of the need to avoid sensitive areas of the body, including the chest. While some studies tout the benefits of Tasers as a tool for law enforcement, the absence of sound policy, training and guidelines to direct the powerful weapons’ proper, lawful use contributes to this disturbing pattern of misuse and overuse and puts the state’s residents and visitors at unnecessary and unjustifiable risk. The NYCLU’s analysis found: Nearly 60 percent of reported Taser incidents did not meet expertrecommended criteria for justifying Taser use—criteria that limit the weapon’s use to situations where law enforcement officers can document active aggression or a risk of physical injury. Fifteen percent of incident reports indicated clearly inappropriate Taser use, such as officers shocking people who were merely passively or verbally noncompliant with a police order, or where a suspect was already handcuffed or restrained. Only 15 percent of documented Taser incidents involved people who were armed or who were thought to be armed, belying the myth that Tasers are most frequently used as an alternative to deadly force. More than one-third of Taser incidents involved multiple or prolonged Taser shocks, which experts link to an increased risk of injury and death. More than 1 in 4 (27 percent) of Taser incidents involved shocks directly to subjects’ chest area, despite explicit 2009 guidelines by the weapon’s manufacturer instructing users to avoid firing Tasers at the chest area, citing a risk of “potential cardiac consequences. In 75 percent of incidents, no verbal warnings were reported, despite expert recommendations that verbal warnings precede Taser firings. Half of the jurisdictions surveyed do not, in fact, require officers to issue verbal warnings. Forty percent of the Taser incidents analyzed involved at-risk subjects. Taser experts caution against Taser use on children, the elderly, the visibly infirm and individuals who are seriously intoxicated or mentally ill — “the very individuals” most likely to be in contact with police, according to the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Of these incidents, 30 percent involved situations where officers were called to assist with a mentally disturbed individual with no indication or suggestion of criminal activity. People of color are overwhelmingly represented in Taser incidents. Of all incidents in which race was recorded, 58 percent involved black or Latino New Yorkers. In Albany, where 28 percent of the population is black, 68 percent of Taser incidents involved black subjects; similar disproportionalities were evident in Syracuse and Rochester. As the NYCLU’s analysis demonstrates, these problems are directly linked to the fact that use-of-force policies governing the use of Tasers lack consistency and, with the exception of the NYPD, do not comply with the recommendations of national law enforcement experts that have developed model policies for Taser use. Moreover, seven of the eight jurisdictions surveyed by the NYCLU analysis appear to rely exclusively on training materials provided by TASER International, the weapon’s manufacturer—an approach that experts widely condemn as inadequate preparation for crucial decisions in the field. In addition to these fundamental flaws in policy and training, law enforcement agencies are not doing enough to monitor and supervise the use of Tasers in the field. The incident reports obtained by the NYCLU showed grossly inconsistent and incomplete record-keeping, a significant obstacle to accountability and proper assessment of the risks and rewards of Tasers. Defining and practicing the “appropriate use” of Tasers remains the outstanding challenge in the effort to ensure that Tasers do not cause more harm than good. Accordingly, the NYCLU recommends the following: 1. New York State law enforcement agencies must reform use-of-force polices and Taser training programs to comply with nationally recognized expert guidelines, such as the guidelines created by the United States Department of Justice and the Police Executive Research Forum. 2. The State of New York must play an active role in promoting and achieving universal adoption of these expert-recommended policies and guidelines, and in ensuring that local agencies coordinate their Taser policies and training programs. 3. The State of New York and local law enforcement agencies must require accurate, complete reporting and robust monitoring of Taser use. Such reporting should be made available to the elected officials responsible for oversight of law enforcement agencies and to the citizens whose taxes support them. Details: New York: New York Civil Liberties Union, 2011. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed October 2, 2011 at: http://www.nyclu.org/files/publications/nyclu_TaserFinal.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.nyclu.org/files/publications/nyclu_TaserFinal.pdf Shelf Number: 123072 Keywords: Non-lethal WeaponsPolice Use of ForceStun GunsTasers (New York City) |
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: Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) Title: Conducted Energy Devices: Use in a Custodial Setting Summary: These guidelines for the use of Conducted Energy Devices (CEDs) in custodial settings provide protections designed to ensure that CEDs are used in custodial settings only by deputies who have been trained in their use. CEDs are to be used by these deputies only against subjects who make a sudden attack or offer active physical resistance. In making a decision about the use of a CED, deputies must consider the entire context of a situation, including factors such as the subject’s history of violence and whether bystanders are at risk. The recommended policies also call for caution and evaluation of other options before a CED is used against elderly subjects, women believed to be pregnant, and persons with apparent physical disabilities that impair their mobility. The recommended policies also require the reporting of CED activations and prohibit using CEDs as a form of punishment. The NSA envisions that continued research into CED use, such as the U.S. Department of Justice’s current study of the impact of CED use on officers and suspects, will inform the development of additional policies governing CED use. Out of the 345 sheriffs’ agencies sent the survey, 288 returned completed surveys. The survey contained a series of open-ended and closed-ended questions about agency personnel and its detention centers, followed by questions on the agency’s mission; the number of CED-type weapons possessed; when, where, and by whom the CED weapons are authorized to be deployed; the agency’s other policies regarding CED deployment; training in CED use; and lawsuits related to CED weapons. Details: Washington, DC: Police Executive Research Forum, 2009. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 29, 2012 at http://www.bja.gov/pdf/PERFNSA_CED.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.bja.gov/pdf/PERFNSA_CED.pdf Shelf Number: 114886 Keywords: Conducted Energy WeaponsCorrections AdministrationCorrections OfficersNonlethal WeaponsPolice Use of ForcePolice WeaponsStun GunsTaser Guns |
Author: Scott, Kenneth B. Title: Research Report: Evaluation of the Strathclyde Extended Deployment of Taser Pilot Summary: In June 2009 the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police approved the establishment of a pilot project to extend the use of Taser to specially trained officers attending operational incidents involving violence or threats of violence. The aim of the Extended Deployment of Taser (EDT) Pilot was to assess the effectiveness of deploying Specially Trained Officers (STOs), who are not authorised firearms officers, on the front-line with Taser X26 devices as an additional tactical option in operational policing situations requiring the use of force. The Pilot ran from 20 April to 20 October 2010 and thirty response officers from two sub-divisions were selected for specialist training as STOs for the purpose of carrying Taser during their regular periods of duty.This evaluation sought to determine compliance of Specially Trained Officers with the Standard Operating Procedures for the deployment of Taser and reviewed in detail both the small number of incidents in which Taser was deployed within the Pilot (see 1 below), and a number of identified incidents in which STOs decided not to deploy Taser (see 2 below). It concluded that Specially Trained Officers complied with the Procedures and adhered to the requirement to use Taser in ways which were measured, justifiable and proportionate. Details: Dundee, Scotland: The Scottish Institute for Policing Research, 2012. 5p. Source: SIPR Research Summary No. 12: Internet Resource: Accessed November 3, 2012 at http://www.sipr.ac.uk/downloads/Research_Summaries/Research_Summary_12.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.sipr.ac.uk/downloads/Research_Summaries/Research_Summary_12.pdf Shelf Number: 126866 Keywords: Conducted Energy WeaponsNonlethal WeaponsPolice Use of ForcePolice WeaponsStun GunsTaser GunsTasers |
Author: New South Wales Ombudsman Title: How Are Taser Weapons Used by the NSW Police Force? A Special Report to Parliament under s. 31 of the Ombudsman Act 1974 Summary: This is the second comprehensive investigation that my office has undertaken into the use of Taser weapons by the New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF). The first investigation was done at a time when Tasers were only used by police officers within specialist units of the NSWPF. Since that report in 2008, Taser weapons have been rolled out for use by all accredited general duties police officers in NSW. The increase in the number of Taser weapons and officers who can carry a Taser bring a greater risk that Tasers may be used inappropriately. The controls and accountability mechanisms for their use now need to be of the highest standard – to ensure not only proper use, but to minimise any opportunities for or risks of misuse. Also of concern is the potential that an over-reliance on Tasers will diminish police officers’ skills in important areas such as communication, negotiation and weaponless control. The Taser can be an effective device when it is used appropriately and in accordance with the law, the NSWPF tactical options model and Taser use procedures. However, Taser use must always be balanced against the potential danger to human life and the risk of serious injury to members of the community or police officers. On any assessment, the Taser is an intrusive and invasive weapon. It pierces the skin when the Taser probes are discharged and inflicts considerable pain on the person subject to the Taser. It can also lead to additional safety risks, depending on the circumstances of use and the nature of the interaction. Around Australia, there have been well publicised misuses of Taser which have led to significant and justified concern within the community. For these reasons, a Taser must be used only in situations where there is a real threat of harm or danger to police or members of the community. This investigation was commenced in October 2010 and it is the most comprehensive review of Taser use to date in Australia. We have evaluated data relating to 2,252 Taser use incidents, together with a detailed examination of 556 individual police Taser use incidents – where we closely analysed all police records as well as the video footage from the Taser Cam. Such a detailed review allowed us to not only examine the application of relevant police procedures and rules in each incident, but also how they were interpreted and applied by operational police and how the internal accountability and review system worked for each incident. Our findings support the ongoing use of Taser weapons by the NSWPF. We identified a small number of misuses or breaches of relevant Taser rules and procedures, and found that the accountability framework was strong and in most cases worked well. The positive nature of many of these findings is, I believe, a direct result of the strong accountability framework in place, the detailed rules and procedures for use, and the decision to have Taser Cam as a mandatory feature in each Taser. Notwithstanding our generally positive findings, we did identify incidents where the use of the Taser was inappropriate or where the internal review process was either inadequate or inconsistent. These cases point to some significant issues of concern around the interpretation of procedures and criteria for use of Tasers and the adequacy and consistency of the internal review processes. We have made 44 recommendations to ensure that what is essentially a good system is made better and stronger. There will always be a risk that Tasers can be misused. An enhanced accountability framework with greater clarity and guidance will help to further minimise the risk of Taser misuse – and, importantly, result in such misuse being identified and dealt with quickly and effectively. This investigation has required a significant amount of work by both staff from my office and senior and other police officers. It is important to record that the Commissioner of Police has been very supportive of the investigation. From the start, he committed to ensuring that we were given ready access to everything we needed to complete our review and analysis of Taser use. Details: Sydney: NSW Ombudsman, 2012. 202p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 5, 2012 at: http://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/6970/SR_Taser_Report_Oct2012_web.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/6970/SR_Taser_Report_Oct2012_web.pdf Shelf Number: 126883 Keywords: Police Use of ForceStun GunsTasers (New South Wales, Australia) |
Author: Victoria Police Title: Evaluation of Victoria Police Conducted Energy Device Pilot Project Summary: The Taser X26 is a brand of conducted energy device (CED); a 'less lethal' device that is used to cause temporary incapacitation to a person. Emitting electricity via wires and probes, they are employed as a resolution option by national and international law enforcement agencies against persons causing or threatening serious harm to themselves or others. CEDs have been in use by specialist areas within Victoria Police since 2004 (Special Operations Group [SOG], 2004, and the Critical Incident Response Teams [CIRT], 2005). With these specialist areas responding from their bases in Melbourne, a service delivery gap exists in regional and rural areas of Victoria. In February, 2010, Victoria Police commenced a pilot project to trial CEDs in the Bendigo and Morwell response zones. Analysis of Use of Force data identified these response zones as having a higher number of incidents involving the use of force, persons with a mental illness, sieges and instances where offenders have used weapons against police. Even though police effectively resolve a high volume of these incidents on a daily basis without recourse to the use of force, the aim of the project was to introduce CEDs to general duties and Highway Patrol police from these pilot sites and provide them with an enhanced less lethal capability to minimise the likelihood of recourse to lethal force when responding to incidents of this nature. The trial commenced on the 4th of July, 2010, and initially ran for a twelve month period before being extended pending the outcome of a formal evaluation process. In August 2011, Victoria Police's Deputy Commissioner for Regional and Road Policing, Mr Kieran Walshe APM, instigated an evaluation of the Conducted Energy Device Pilot Project. This evaluation examined and assessed the project that saw the equipping of front line police at the pilot sites with the Taser X26 CED. In order to ensure the evaluation was robust and objective, Victoria Police approached New South Wales Police seeking the assistance of an appropriately experienced senior officer. Assistant Commissioner Alan Clarke APM, the Chairperson of the NSW Police Force Taser Executive Committee, was subsequently engaged to lead the evaluation with assistance provided by staff from the Victoria Police Inspectorate. This final evaluation of the Victoria Police Conducted Energy Device Pilot Project builds upon the Interim Evaluation completed by the Conducted Energy Device Pilot Project team. The Evaluation Team, where appropriate, identified opportunities for improvement and made recommendations. The range of material examined during the evaluation supports the assertion that the CED is an effective weapon in assisting in the resolution of some incidents; this was further supported by the feedback supplied by the police attending the incidents where CED was used. Details: Melbourne: Victoria Police, 2011. 63p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 24, 2014 at: http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=31234 Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=31234 Shelf Number: 132175 Keywords: Non-Lethal WeaponsPolice Use of ForceStun GunsTasers |
Author: Maryland. Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention Title: FIRST REPORT TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND Under Public Safety Article S3-508: 2012 Electronic Control Device (ECD) Discharges Analysis Summary: On April 12, 2011 Governor O'Malley signed into law Senate Bill 652/House Bill 507, which was subsequently enacted under the Annotated Code of Maryland, Public Safety Article 3-508. This law requires law enforcement agencies that issue Electronic Control Devices (ECDs)1, also known as tasers, to report certain information regarding the use of those devices to the Maryland Statistical Analysis Center (MSAC) located in the Governor's Office of Crime Control & Prevention (GOCCP), under Executive Order 01.01.2007.04. MSAC and the Police and Correctional Training Commissions (PCTC) worked with law enforcement and legal representatives to develop a standardized, efficient, user-friendly format to record and report data required under this law. METHODOLOGY This report represents all ECD discharges by law enforcement during the 2012 calendar year that were reported to MSAC. The law requires the submission of annual ECD data to MSAC by March 31st of the following year. All data sets were received in an excel format, as required, and later combined, merged, standardized, and analyzed using IBM SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) Statistics version 21.0 to formulate this report. IBM SPSS Statistics version 21.0 is a system package widely accepted and used by researchers and social scientists. For the purpose of this report, an ECD discharge means an ECD was fired at a person; it does not include an ECD that was fired during a training exercise. Also, accidental discharges, as well as an ECD fired at an animal, are not included in the report. Law enforcement agencies were required to electronically submit verification to MSAC regardless of whether the agency issued ECDs to its officers. MSAC received 100% compliance from all law enforcement agencies that were required to report. Law enforcement agencies that issued and used ECDs reported the following data: The number of times an ECD was discharged by the agency in the past year; The time, date, and location (zip code) of the discharge; The type of incident (e.g. non-criminal, criminal, or traffic stop) in which the person against whom the ECD was discharged was involved prior to the discharge; The reason for each discharge (e.g. non-threatening non-compliance, threat of force, and use of force); The type of mode used (e.g. probe, drive stun, or both) of the discharge; The number of ECD cycles, the duration of each cycle, and the duration between cycles of the discharge; The point of impact of each discharge (e.g., arm, back torso, buttocks, front torso, groin/hip, head, leg, neck, side, clothing, or miss); The race, gender, and age, of each person against whom the ECD was discharged; The type of weapon (e.g., firearm, edged, blunt force, or other), if any, possessed by the person against whom the ECD was discharged, and the threat of any weapon; Any injury or death resulting from the discharge other than punctures or lacerations caused by the ECD contact or the removal of ECD probes; and The type of medical care, if any, provided to the person against whom the ECD was discharged, other than the treatment for punctures or lacerations caused by the ECD contact or the removal of ECD probes. Details: Baltimore: Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention, 2013. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 23, 2014 at: http://www.jrsa.org/sac-spotlight/maryland/ecd-Data-2012.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.jrsa.org/sac-spotlight/maryland/ecd-Data-2012.pdf Shelf Number: 133400 Keywords: Electronic Control Devices (Maryland)Police Use of ForceStun GunsTaser |
Author: Neuscheler, Jena Title: Report on Electronic Control Weapons (ECWs) Submitted to the City of Berkeley Summary: The SCJC report aims to help the City Council evaluate the potential benefits and consequences of equipping city police with ECWs. The Council's primary concern was the impact of ECW adoption on the safety of police officers and the citizens they protect. The Council also sought information on the acute health effects of ECWs, the legal framework that governs ECW use, and how adoption might impact the city's budget. To answer those questions, we have read and analyzed approximately 150 studies on the public safety impacts of ECW adoption, the physical effects of ECWs on the human body, and the legal ramifications of ECW adoption. We have attempted to rigorously assess each of these studies, critiquing their methodologies and assumptions, as well as considering possible critiques of those critiques. Our goal has been to help identify what is and what is not known about ECW as a law enforcement tool, and to separate well founded claims from those with a weak foundation. The City Council and the SCJC originally planned to survey several nearby jurisdictions in order to examine outcomes following ECW adoption. The goal was to extrapolate from the results of nearby cities, whose demographics and characteristics might be similar to those of Berkeley. As the Center's research continued, however, it became clear that a survey of nearby jurisdictions would not provide meaningful or accurate answers to the most important questions. Many of those questions had been addressed by a vast body of empirical research conducted by teams of medical and social scientists, often with the support of grants from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The best studies take years to gather, code, and analyze data, which are subject to statistical controls to help account for the characteristics that make each jurisdiction or subject unique. On the question of whether ECWs help reduce injuries to suspect and police officers, for instance, just one of the two leading datasets includes 24,000 use-of-force records from 12 cities, which were chosen from a nationally representative survey of 1,000 municipal, county, and state law enforcement agencies. In short, attempting to reproduce those inquiries by simply surveying nearby cities would risk capturing information irrelevant to the demographics and dynamics of Berkeley. At the same time, the very familiarity of those nearby cities would make it even easier to draw misleading conclusions. Moreover, for some of the most important questions, even the most sophisticated research had yielded conflicting results. Ultimately, we determined that the best way to help the Berkeley City Council answer these questions was to effectively synthesize this vast literature into an overview of what is known, while setting aside specious or poorly supported claims. Throughout the course of this research, we have learned that some of the most important questions do not have an answer-in some cases, because research is still ongoing; in other cases, because the answers depend on underlying values and beliefs. We believe that identifying and explaining those questions that do not have clear answers is one of the more useful functions of this report. Details: Stanford, CA: Stanford Criminal Justice Center, Stanford law School, 2015. 73p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 26, 2015 at: https://2pe0o743k0s82lo5l6trs9j1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ECW-Final-Draft-2.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://2pe0o743k0s82lo5l6trs9j1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ECW-Final-Draft-2.pdf Shelf Number: 137058 Keywords: Electronic Control WeaponsNon-Lethal WeaponsPolice Use of ForceStun GunsTasers |
Author: Williams, Howard E. Title: Physiological Attributes of Arrest-Related Sudden Deaths Proximate to the Appllication of Taser Electronic Control Devices: An Evidence Based Study of the Theory of High-Risk Groups Summary: TASER electronic control devices (ECDs), manufactured by TASER International, Inc. in Scottsdale, Arizona, have become a popular tool for law enforcement. TASER International has sold more than 710,000 devices to 16,880 agencies in 107 countries. Although other manufacturers produce comparable types of electro-shock weapons, TASER products are the most commonly used in the United States and worldwide. Unfortunately, more than 870 people worldwide have died unexpectedly following law enforcement officers' uses of TASER ECDs. Currently, there is no research definitively establishing a causal relationship between the use of an ECD and the death of a person exposed to it. However, some recent studies suggest that application of TASER technology is responsible for sudden unexpected deaths. The ever increasing number of deaths following application of TASER ECDs and the growing number of cases wherein a coroner or medical examiner attribute the use of an ECD as a cause of death or as a significant contributing factor to the death raise legitimate concerns about the safety threshold of the devices. Researchers have proposed and tested many theories of why people die following the application of ECDs, including direct electro-stimulation of cardiac muscle, interference with breathing, and metabolic changes resulting in acidosis. Thus far, human model experiments have produced no evidence to support these theories. Another theory, which has recently appeared in the literature, has received no empirical testing the theory of high-risk groups. High-risk group theory postulates that elderly people, young children, people with pre-existing cardiovascular disease, people with pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, people under the influence of drugs (amphetamines, cocaine, lysergic acid diethylamide, marijuana, opiates, and/or phencyclidine) or with a history of drug abuse, people intoxicated from alcohol or with a history of chronic alcohol abuse, people under extreme psychological distress or who exhibit signs of excited delirium, people who are mentally ill or taking psychotropic medications, people subjected to repeated or multiple applications, and pregnant women are at a heightened risk of serious injury or death following application of a TASER ECD. What the current literature fails to consider is that the same physiological attributes that are presumed to render members of high-risk groups more vulnerable to serious injury or death following application of a TASER ECD might render these same people more vulnerable to serious injury or death regardless of the tactics or weapons that officers use to subdue them. If that hypothesis is correct, the use of TASER ECDs on people in high-risk groups might be irrelevant to arrest-related sudden deaths. The potential for fatal adverse effects on high-risk groups when using other less lethal tactics and methods versus the potential for fatal adverse effects on high-risk groups following the use of a TASER ECD is currently unknown. Thus far, research has not directly addressed the question. By examining autopsy and toxicology reports of the deceased and comparing differences in the physiological attributes of arrest-related sudden deaths, one can then estimate whether a difference exists in high-risk group attributes between deaths proximate to the use of a TASER ECD and deaths not involving the use of an ECD. An arrest-related sudden death is a death that occurs following a collapse within 24 hours after the initial arrest or detention. The death must be unexpected, must not be the result of trauma or injury that a layperson could readily discern needs medical attention, and must follow a sudden change in clinical condition or the beginning of symptoms from which the deceased does not recover. It does not include police shootings and suicides. Details: San Marcos: Texas State University, 2013. 305p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed March 2, 2016 at: https://digital.library.txstate.edu/bitstream/handle/10877/4855/WILLIAMS-DISSERTATION-2013.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://digital.library.txstate.edu/bitstream/handle/10877/4855/WILLIAMS-DISSERTATION-2013.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 138016 Keywords: Arrest-Related DeathsNon-Lethal WeaponsStun GunsTasers |
Author: Fryer, Roland G., Jr. Title: An Empirical Analysis of Racial Differences in Police Use of Force Summary: This paper explores racial differences in police use of force. On non-lethal uses of force, blacks and Hispanics are more than fifty percent more likely to experience some form of force in interactions with police. Adding controls that account for important context and civilian behavior reduces, but cannot fully explain, these disparities. On the most extreme use of force - officer-involved shootings - we find no racial differences in either the raw data or when contextual factors are taken into account. We argue that the patterns in the data are consistent with a model in which police officers are utility maximizers, a fraction of which have a preference for discrimination, who incur relatively high expected costs of officer-involved shootings. Details: Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2016. 63p. Source: Internet Resource: NBER Working Paper Series, no. 22399: Accessed July 11, 2016 at: http://www.nber.org/papers/w22399.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.nber.org/papers/w22399.pdf Shelf Number: 139612 Keywords: Non-Lethal WeaponsOfficer-Involved ShootingsPolice Deadly ForcePolice Use of ForceRacial DisparitiesStun Guns |
Author: Goff, Phillip Atiba Title: The Science of Justice: Race, Arrests, and Police Use of Force Summary: Despite the importance of understanding how race intersects with police use of force, little research has used police administrative data to investigate whether or not disparities exist. Because the dominant narrative around race and law enforcement is that crime rates drive police behavior, we used data from the National Justice Database - the Center for Policing Equity's project to provide national-level data and analyses on police behavior - to investigate racial disparities in use of force benchmarking against demographics of local arrest rates. Even though this is a conservative estimate of bias, the analyses of 12 law enforcement departments from geographically and demographically diverse locations revealed that racial disparities in police use of force persist even when controlling for racial distribution of local arrest rates. Additionally, multiple participating departments still demonstrated racial disparities when force incidents were bench-marked exclusively against Part I violent arrests, such that Black residents were still more likely than Whites to be targeted for force. This method is very likely prone to underestimate racial disparities because African Americans are over-represented in violent crime arrests but Part I violent crimes constitute only 1/24th of all arrests nationally (BJS, 2012), and previous research has found arrests for violent crimes to involve police use of force only 1.3 times as often as arrests for all other crimes (Worden, 1995). These disparities were robust across multiple categories of force (hand weapon, OC spray, and Tasers). In addition to these findings and consistent with previous literature, Taser usage represented a large percentage of departments' use of force. Specifically, residents who were targeted for force were far more likely to be targeted by Tasers than by deadly weapons. While previous research has demonstrated the stark rise of Taser usage (Taylor et al., 2011) and its potential to reduce injuries (Alpert et al., 2011), the relatively high incidence of Taser usage relative to all other categories (it was the second most common category across all departments trailing only hand/body weapons) deserves significantly more public and scholarly attention given that Tasers are also the category closest to use of deadly force in most use of force continuums. It is important to be cautious about overgeneralizing these results because of the relatively small number of departments and because we do not know very much about what residents did during the interactions that turned forceful. However, the narrative that crime is the primary driver of racial disparities is not supported within the context of these departments. This suggests that scholars and practitioners should look at racial disparities in other situational factors (e.g., resistance, drug and alcohol use, and officer perceptions of dangerousness) to determine whether or not they explain racial disparities in force. Details: Los Angeles: Center for Policing Equity, 2016. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 20, 2016 at: http://policingequity.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/CPE_SoJ_Race-Arrests-UoF_2016-07-08-1130.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://policingequity.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/CPE_SoJ_Race-Arrests-UoF_2016-07-08-1130.pdf Shelf Number: 140377 Keywords: Police BehaviorPolice Use of ForceRacial DisparitiesStun GunsTasersUse of Non-Lethal Force |
Author: Buchanan, Kim S. Title: Electronic Defense Weapon Analysis and Findings, 2015 Summary: In an effort to increase transparency and better understand taser 1 use, the Connecticut General Assembly passed Public Act 14-149, An Act Concerning the Use of Electronic Defense Weapons by Police Officers, in 2014. PA 14-149 directed the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POSTC) to draft and distribute a model policy for regulating the use of tasers. This law requires that every police department adopt and maintain a taser policy that meets or exceeds the standards set by the POSTC model policy. The new law also requires police officers to document each incident in which a taser was used and for law enforcement agencies authorizing such use to report all incidents to the Office of Policy and Management (OPM), Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division, by January 15 of the following year. The Institute of Municipal and Regional Policy (IMRP), at Central Connecticut State University, was tasked by the Office of Policy and Managements Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division with compiling and analyzing the reported taser data for 2015. The findings and recommendations in this report are based on analysis of the data submitted by 79 police departments in 2015, including a review of policies governing the use of tasers. This was the first year in which data on taser use has been collected in Connecticut. Based on numerous factors, IMRP researchers believe the data collected is not indicative of the entirety of required incident reporting based on PA 14-149. Therefore, while the descriptive statistics presented in this report raise many questions as to how, when, why, and on whom reported taser usage occurs within law enforcement agencies, they cannot be taken to conclusively establish what is happening with respect to all law enforcement taser use in Connecticut. As such, this first year of taser findings should be interpreted with caution. Details: New Britain, CT: Central Connecticut State University, Institute for Municipal & Regional Policy, 2016. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 7, 2016 at: http://www.ccsu.edu/imrp/projects/files/EDW.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.ccsu.edu/imrp/projects/files/EDW.pdf Shelf Number: 145110 Keywords: Electronic Control Weapons Non-Lethal Weapons Police Use of Force Police Weapons Stun Guns Tasers |
Author: British Columbia. Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner Title: Taser Technology Review: Final Report Summary: Since the production of our Interim Report, the focus of the investigative team has been to provide suggested Course Training Standards in the areas of Conducted Energy Devices (CED) (i.e.: TASER), Excited Delirium (ED) and Restraint Protocols (RP). These are not intended to be endpoints; rather they reflect best practices based on research available at this time. This Course Training Standards package will be made available upon its completion and is intended to support several of our recommendations in the Interim Report. Since the Interim Report was released in September, 2004, several new studies relevant to this area have been published. The Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology Study (PACE), although criticized because of the participation of TASER medical and technical personnel, appears to demonstrate that adequate margins of safety exist with respect to the issue of ventricular fibrillation (VF). The Human Effects Centre of Excellence (HECOE) Study, produced by the U.S. Military, also confirmed that VF was unlikely to be a risk, although it identified the potential for serious unintended consequences, "albeit with estimated low probabilities of occurrence." Research done by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) confirmed several of the hypotheses present in our Interim Report, as it demonstrated that very lengthy TASER exposures (three minutes of five second on - five second off cycling) had significant impacts on blood levels of carbon dioxide, lactate, pH, and other markers. We believe this study provides support for the proposition that police should, where possible, be minimizing multiple TASER applications. The effect that TASER application has on respiration remains an area of concern. Muscular tetany that impairs respiration may be an operative factor that has been previously unrecognized. This concern also relates to the issue of multiple usages. Life preservation and retrieval in situations where an individual is at high risk of death proximal to restraint requires changes not just to police protocols and procedures but also the methods used by ambulance personnel and emergency room physicians. These changes require extensive research to ensure they are based on the best available information. There are now two international research initiatives that may provide definitive answers to many of the ongoing TASER debates. In the U.K, the Defence Sciences Technology Laboratory (DSTL) has carried out experiments designed to study the effects of stimulant drugs and electrical current on cardiac tissue, potentially providing some insight as to why stimulant drug abusers make up the overwhelming majority of people who die in police restraint. In the U.S., the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is funding a three year study at the University of Wisconsin to map TASER current in the body and to monitor changes to blood chemistry and respiration. In Canada, the Canadian Police Research Centre (CPRC) is proposing a cross-Canada epidemiological study that will focus on ED and gathering data from emergency room admissions. We believe this Canadian initiative, chosen to coordinate with other international studies, will provide previously unavailable insight into this condition and its medical management. The Amnesty International (AI) report on the TASER makes a number of recommendations we have considered in our Final Report. Although we feel some of those recommendations have merit, we believe that blanket prohibitions do not always obtain the desired outcome. The reasonableness of any use of force will always be determined by the situational factors. Our responsibility as a police community is to give officers the information to make the best possible decision. Details: Victoria, BC: Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, 2015. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: OPCC File No. 2474: Accessed November 17, 2016 at: http://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/pubdocs/bcdocs/376654/taser_finalrpt.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Canada URL: http://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/pubdocs/bcdocs/376654/taser_finalrpt.pdf Shelf Number: 140205 Keywords: Non-lethal WeaponsPolice Use of ForceStun GunsTasers |
Author: Shadung, Mothepa Title: Tools of torture? Use of electric shock equipment among African Police Summary: orture is not an act that happens in isolation. It occurs in many contexts, and there are several techniques and means by which pain and suffering are inflicted on suspects, convicted inmates and others deprived of their liberty. This policy brief highlights how African law-enforcement agencies or government security forces potentially misuse electric shock equipment in a way that contravenes international and continental anti-torture frameworks. It then discusses reported cases of such misuse in South Africa. Finally, recommendations are made on how the use of electric shock equipment on the continent could be curbed, along with ways to build on efforts to prohibit and prevent torture. Recommendations 1 All policies and training with respect to the treatment of persons in custody should be compatible with national, regional and international human-rights standards. 2 African states should ratify the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. 3 All incidents of torture, assault and death in police custody should be reported and carefully monitored as a matter of public accountability and transparency, and perpetrators prosecuted. 4 Handheld direct contact electric shock devices and body-worn electric shock devices designed for law enforcement are prone to abuse and should be prohibited. Details: Pretoria: Institute for Security Studies, 2016. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Brief 85: Accessed December 19, 2016 at: https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PolicyBrief85.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Africa URL: https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PolicyBrief85.pdf Shelf Number: 140526 Keywords: Electric ShocksPolice Use of ForceStun GunsTasersTorture |
Author: Omega Research Foundation Title: Compliance through pain: Electric shock equipment in South African prisons Summary: The authorization of various kinds of electric shock devices for use in South African prisons, are designed to enforce compliance through pain, incapacitation or fear of activation. However, their use has been associated with acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. This policy brief produces an overview of electric shock equipment and describes known harmful medical effects associated with its use. It highlights the use and misuse of these types of equipment in correctional institutions in South Africa, and outlines how and why this equipment is in breach of local, regional and international standards. This brief is designed to raise awareness of these concerns and to provide recommendations for change in how electric shock equipment is used in South Africa. Details: Pretoria: Institute for Security Studies, 2016. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Brief 86: Accessed February 13, 2017 at: http://dspace.africaportal.org/jspui/bitstream/123456789/35856/1/PolicyBrief86.pdf?1 Year: 2016 Country: South Africa URL: http://dspace.africaportal.org/jspui/bitstream/123456789/35856/1/PolicyBrief86.pdf?1 Shelf Number: 147293 Keywords: Electric ShockPunishmentStun GunsTasersTorture |
Author: Amnesty International Netherlands Title: A Failed Experiment: The Taser-Pilot of the Dutch Police Summary: It is required by recognized international human rights rules and standards as presented in the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials that police agencies have at their disposition a range of means to respond to difficult situations in a differentiated manner. Thus, Amnesty International is not outright opposed to the use of electro-shock weapons in law enforcement in all cases. However, the current use of electro-shock weapons as well as the governing regulations in The Netherlands raise serious concerns and therefore Amnesty International calls the Dutch police to: - suspend the use of electro-shock weapons by all police units currently using them until a suitable legal and operational framework for their use has been set up that is in line with the obligations of The Netherlands under international human rights law and standards and - until this is done - to withdraw all electro-shock weapons distributed; - refrain from widespread distribution of electro-shock weapons in day-to-day policing; - cease any police interventions in mental health institutions in all situations and circumstances that do not amount to immediate life threatening emergencies (e.g. hostage situations). Amnesty International furthermore urges the Dutch government to create a legislative framework governing the use of force that gives due consideration to the obligations of The Netherlands under international human rights law, in particular to regulate, in formal legislation, the use of force in line with the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms, including the use of firearms and the use of electro-shock weapons, as well the overall conditions and criteria for police interventions in mental health institutions. This briefing sets out the background to the current pilot project conducted by the Dutch police on the general deployment of electro-shock weapons in day-to-day policing (I.). It further provides a summary of the Amnesty International's main findings regarding the human rights concerns of the first pilot phase as well as the overall set up of the project and its interim evaluation (II.). These findings are then more in detail explained and elaborated in section III., followed by a conclusion and some recommendations (IV.). Details: Amsterdam: Amnesty International Netherlands, 2018. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2018 at: https://www.amnesty.nl/content/uploads/2018/02/A-Failed-Experiment_The-Taser-pilot-of-the-Dutch-Police.pdf?x32866 Year: 2018 Country: Netherlands URL: https://www.amnesty.nl/content/uploads/2018/02/A-Failed-Experiment_The-Taser-pilot-of-the-Dutch-Police.pdf?x32866 Shelf Number: 149679 Keywords: Human Rights AbusesPolice AccountabilityPolice Use of ForceStun GunsTasers |
Author: New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board Title: Tasers: An Evaluation of Taser-Related Complaints from January 2014 Through December 2015 Summary: Across the United States, conducted energy devices, commonly known as "Tasers," are increasingly becoming a policing tool. 1 The New York City Police Department ("NYPD") has historically distributed Tasers on a limited basis, but as of early 2016, hundreds of new Tasers have been issued throughout the Department. As a result, the Civilian Complaint Review Board ("CCRB") can now begin to monitor the NYPD's Taser practices, including how officers are trained, the relevant contents of the NYPD Patrol Guide, and the patterns of police Taser conduct drawn from CCRB complaint data. When used properly, the Taser can be an effective weapon. Some reports on past experiences in New York City and across the country suggest that Tasers may pose health concerns and may be vulnerable to overuse. There has been limited discussion of the NYPD's guidance on when to use the weapon. Until 2015, few NYPD officers carried Tasers, and those who did were either senior officers or part of specialized commands. The NYPD has adopted and is implementing practices for Taser use. This issue brief seeks to share two years of CCRB complaint data, current NYPD guidance and practices as a baseline for tracking Taser use as it relates to CCRB complaints. The scope of the Report includes how Tasers are being used by the NYPD in Taser-related CCRB complaints from 2014 through 2015. Part I of the issue brief provides a short overview of the Taser, including its history, gradual adoption by the NYPD, and the NYPD's Taser policies and trainings. 2 Part II summarizes CCRB complaint data on Taser-related complaints from 2014 and 2015. Part III outlines current NYPD Guidance and identifies best practices. Part IV highlights next steps important for tracking and monitoring Taser use among NYPD officers. Details: New York: The Civilian Complaint Board, 2016. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 24, 2018 at: http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/ccrb/downloads/pdf/policy_pdf/issue_based/20161023_taser-report.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/ccrb/downloads/pdf/policy_pdf/issue_based/20161023_taser-report.pdf Shelf Number: 150362 Keywords: Citizen ComplaintsConducted Energy DevicesPolice MisconductPolice-Citizen InteractionsStun GunsTasers |