Use-of-Force Policies, Practices, and Procedures: Results of a National Survey (From Use of Force: Current Practice and Policy, P 39-60, 1999, Craig Hemmens, Eugene Atherton, eds., -- See NCJ-196798)

• NCJ Number: 196801
• Author(s): Jeff Maahs; Travis Pratt; Craig Hemmens Ph.D.
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 22 pages
• Sale Source: American Correctional Assoc
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter presents the summary results of a survey sent to correctional agency administrators in the United States and Canadian provinces.

Abstract

Presenting correctional agency administrator survey results from the United States and Canada, this chapter discusses use-of-force policies, practices, and procedures. Designed to assess use-of-force policy provisions, training, and incident reporting, the survey, sponsored by the American Correctional Association, was sent to State and Federal prisons, major jails, and State juvenile facilities. The 170 usable returned surveys were entered into the SPSS statistical software pattern, and data were analyzed using various statistical procedures. Findings, presented in a series of tables, indicate that almost all correctional facilities have a written use-of-force policy, and a majority of State correctional departments have policies for handling specialized applications of force. A majority of correctional departments provide guidance as to when escalation in the amount of force involved in use-of-force cases is appropriate, and a majority of correctional facilities report specialized response teams to handle a wide variety of disruptive situations. Furthermore, a majority of correctional departments complete written use-of-force incident reports and provide disciplinary action for excessive use-of-force. The authors conclude that the majority of corrections departments have endorsed and implemented effective policies, procedures, and training regarding the use of force.