Police Uses of Force in the USA: a Wealth of Theories and a Lack of Evidence

Abstract

Research Question How adequate is research in the USA for discovering best policies and practices, and best implementation strategies, for reducing loss of life and injury from police use of force. Data This analysis examines police agency policies on the use of force regulation, evaluations of training initiatives, research on supervision, problem officers, and other dimensions of the issues and possible solutions. Methods The analysis examines both documented correlates and the strength of causal inference about those correlates of reductions in the use of force. Findings The analysis concludes that while many promising ideas have been offered, there are few tested strategies that have demonstrated substantial effects in reducing the use of force. There are virtually no successful strategies that have been replicated. Conclusions The current proliferation of untested programs may divert effort from a coherent and well-funded program of research to test and select effective policies that are urgently needed.

Defanged

“…One obvious objection to an RCT is the simple fact that none has been conducted in the K9 context, lending support to the idea that the difficulty may be insurmountable. Furthermore, even a relatively large collection of RCTs suffers when the goals of the technology or intervention are unclear (Alpert & McLean, 2018;McLean, Stoughton, et al, 2022). Though we support future evaluation of K9s using RCTs, the absence of research in this area has left the goals of K9 programs undefined, especially given the results of the current study, as we report later.…”

“…Despite prolonged use, the scholarship on K9s is scant, with most research examining the medical implications of bites, or olfactory studies on the ability of the dogs to detect narcotics, explosives, and cadavers. Scholars have renewed calls for empirical tests of police procedures, specifically concerning use-of-force (Lum & Koper, 2017;McLean, Stoughton, et al, 2022). Policing must subject even its "best practices," and hallowed traditions to empirical testing (Weisburd & Neyroud, 2011).…”

Public Pressure or Peer Influence: What Shapes Police Executives' Views on Civilian Oversight?

“…neither public CRB support treatment produced differences in chiefs' and sheriffs' feelings toward CRBs, willingness to establish a CRB, and number of powers deemed appropriate. 11 Next, we conducted an exploratory investigation into whether police executives in areas with existing CRBs respond differently to the treatments about public support and peer adoption than police executives in areas without CRBs. Figure 2 presents results.…”

“…While the dominant view within law enforcement is that police-led investigations are sufficient, reformers have argued that CRBs are necessary to promote fair and transparent investigations, ensure accessible complaint processes, improve public trust and perceptions of procedural justice, and ultimately deter police misconduct through public accountability 2,4,[8][9][10] . While we lack empirical evidence showing the real-world impact of CRBs on police conduct 11 , CRBs are "based on the premise that although the public has relinquished to the police the authority to enforce the law, the public retains the right to control the police bureaucracy externally, if the need arises" 12 (p. 199).…”

Looking into the History of Recent Police Reforms in the USA: Critical Insights, Learning and Implications

“…Therefore, the country's racial discrimination and gun violence convey a negative perception of the country worldwide. However, as McLean et al (2022) point out that there are many funded programs and research on the use of the police force in the USA, but such a proliferation of programs diverts the sector from a coherent policy model.…”