Evaluation of Oleoresin Capsicum (O.C.) Use by Law Enforcement Agencies: Impact on Injuries to Officers and Suspects, Final Activity Report

• NCJ Number: 184934
• Author(s): J. Michael Bowling Ph.D.; Monica Gaines MBMA
• Date Published: 2000
• Length: 24 pages
• Grant Number(s): 97-LB-VT--K018
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Survey

Annotation

This report describes a 2-year study to collect and analyze data on injuries to police officers and suspects in North Carolina resulting from police use of oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray.

Abstract

Information for the study was obtained from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the Winston Salem Police Department, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. The analysis focused on injuries to police officers and use of excessive force complaints against the police. Study findings showed the issuance of OC spray was associated with a decline in the number of injured patrol officers per month and a decline in the monthly counts of suspects injured by the use of force by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Further, a decline in excessive use of force complaints lodged against patrol officers was associated with the implementation of OC spray. While OC spray could have implicated in changing counts of injured police officers and suspects at other study sites, available data did not provide sufficient evidence to make those claims. 3 references, 15 tables, and 6 figures