This brief presents a study addressing the impact of a college degree upon officer use of force. The average American municipal police academy only requires 26 weeks of training, despite previous studies showing overwhelming support that college educated police officers apply more discretion in their use of force than officers without a college degree. Taking into account contemporary public/police conflicts and how American perceptions of police are based largely on officer use of force, this study offers a more current perspective on the profession’s changing dynamic over the past decade. With data gathered from over 400 officers from 143 distinct municipal police agencies in 6 American states, the study examines the association between a college education and the level of force used to gain compliance during arrest situations, and notes discrepancies between previously studied factors and contextual variables. This brief will be useful for researchers of policing and for those involved with police training.

Publisher Description

The need for evidence-based practice to enhance current and future police training and assessment has never been greater. This need focuses on the procedures and findings of research within the field of police work along with the philosophy guiding these research approaches and commentaries on the methods being used. With many future directions for the science of police training and assessment, the focus on new training techniques and technologies for improving performance is of the upmost importance to find the best current, evidence-based practices for policing. In addition to these practices, understanding the practical realities and challenges of implementing cutting-edge procedures is essential in gaining a holistic view on police well-being and performance. Interventions, Training, and Technologies for Improved Police Well-Being and Performance is a critical publication that explores new training methods and technologies. The future of policing is poised to change, making the need for developments in evidence-based practices more important than ever before. New technology and techniques for improving performance and the perception of the police force can guide the policies and practices of law enforcement, trainers and academies, government officials, policymakers, psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, to a more effective implementation of training and procedures. Including the perspective of police officers within the publication, this text offers insight into an often neglected viewpoint when creating training and policies. This text is also be beneficial for researchers, academicians, and students interested in the new training techniques, technologies, and interventions for police performance and well-being.

The Psychology of Police Deadly Force Encounters: Science, Practice, and Police is a fascinating look into the reality of police work. The author integrates noted theories into a “street-wise” understanding of being a police officer. The focus of this book is on the use of deadly force by officers—a topic of considerable importance. The author discusses the psychosocial aspects of deadly force use, stemming from the individual officer, the situation, organizational influences, and the police culture. Expanding further into social issues, the controversial topic of race and use of deadly force is discussed. This depiction looks at both sides—that of racial victimization and that of the police—which helps to provide a rather unique perspective on this important issue. Of interest, the author breaks down the different dimensions of cognition as a factor in decision making among police, including the perception of the situation, the action taken depending on that perception, and the role of present and past memory. This will make for a useful training topic to alert officers to the cognitive processes that go into deadly force use—processes that they have the control to change to make a better decision. Next, the book delves into the biological factors that may be involved in police decision making—again where deadly force is involved. The various negative psychological impacts that a deadly force situation may bring about are identified and explained. This book will be useful as a tool for both law enforcement practitioners and researchers to better understand the intricacies of deadly force by the police. For researchers, the book has a multitude of references available for further exploration. It will prove to be a useful guide and reference volume for police managers and supervisors, mental health clinicians, investigators, attorneys, judges, law enforcement educators and trainers, rank and file police officers, including expert witnesses.

Every 3 to 4 years, the Bureau of Justice Statistics surveys a nationally representative sample of state and local law enforcement agencies. This report presents data from the 2007 BJS survey describing local police departments in terms of their personnel, budgets, operations, policies and procedures, computers and information systems, and equipment. Comparisons are made with prior years where appropriate, and as data are available. The selected local police sample includes all departments employing 100 or more full-time sworn personnel and a systematic random sample of smaller agencies stratified by size. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand edition of an important, hard-to-find report.

Starting with a historical introduction, Police Use of Force presents readers with critical and timely issues facing police and the communities they serve when police encounters turn violent.