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Police use of force has been the focus of a number of external assessments of the occupation for over 50 years. Recent concerns have, once again, prompted calls for additional research on the correlates of this behavior, especially as it relates to officer use of force mindset. Relying on a framework articulated as part of a use of force symposium of academics and practitioners, the current study utilizes survey and behavioral data from officers in six police agencies to examine dimensions of use of force mindset among officers, and the degree to which attitudinal mindset influences use of force behavior. The implications for police scholarship and practice are discussed.

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Since their emergence within the field of policing, the use of conducted energy devices (CEDs) has produced a great deal of debate. However, few empirically rigorous studies have shed light on the extent to which CEDs (e.g., TASERs) are actually successful at gaining citizen compliance. As such, we examine 918 TASER cases collected from three police agencies to assess effectiveness in relation to citizen compliance. Findings demonstrate that officers generally classify the TASER as effective, but the level of effectiveness varies depending on whether it was used in probe or drive-stun mode. Multivariate regression models also identify a number of significant variables related to TASER effectiveness, including citizen (e.g., height, weight, gender, impairment) and officer (e.g., gender) characteristics. We discuss the findings in relation to those found in prior studies, as well as implications for research, policy, and practice.