Evaluation of Less Lethal Technologies on Police Use of Force Outcomes

The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) proposes to examine injury and liability issues concerning conducted energy devices (CEDs). The proposed study will use a quasi-experimental design to identify three groups of law enforcement agencies (n=12): three agencies with full CED deployment that rank the CED higher on the use of force continuum, three matched agencies with full CED deployment that rank the CED lower on the use of force continuum and a matched comparison group consisting of six agencies that do not deploy CEDs. The primary objective of the project will be to evaluate the effect of CED deployment on injuries to police, suspects, victims and bystanders; associated medical costs; worker's compensation claims; official complaints filed against police personnel regarding the use of force and associated lawsuits. Additionally, the project will compare these findings to each police agency's 'use of force' policies concerning CED deployment and other less-than-lethal weapons. ca/ncf