Quantum of Force: The Consequences of Counting Routine Conducted Energy Weapon Punctures as Injuries

• NCJ Number: 249167
• Journal: Justice Quarterly Volume: 32 Issue: 4 Dated: 2015 Pages: 598-625
• Author(s): Robert J. Kaminski; Robin S. Engel; Jeff Rojek; Michael R. Smith; Geoffrey Alpert
• Date Published: 2015
• Length: 28 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2005-IJ-CX-0056
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored)
• Award: A Multi-Method Evaluation of Police Use of Force Outcomes

Annotation

This study empirically demonstrated the differences in findings of research on the risk of citizen injury from police use of conducted energy devices (CEWs) when routine CEW puncture wounds are included as citizen injuries and when they are not.

Abstract

In a recent paper, researchers reported increases in the risk of citizen injury associated with police use of conducted energy devices (CEWs), a finding that is contrary to that reported in most previous studies. These authors speculate that the differences in findings when compared to other similar studies may be due, in part, to the exclusion of routine CEW dart punctures as injuries by other researchers, and they called on the research community to collectively agree on how CEW injuries should be operationalized. The current study rejects the inclusion of routine CEW dart punctures when determining the risk of CEW injuries, because such punctures are inconsistent with how injuries associated with other types of force are routinely coded and measured. (Publisher abstract modified)