Use of Force

Outline of the topic:

Overview of use of force

This section will provide the background of the use of force by the police.

History of use of force

A history would cover the past records and data related to the use of force by police.

Measures needed for use of force

The measures refer to the techniques used by the police for the use of force.

Frequency of deadly force

The frequency refers to the number of items the techniques are used by the police for the use of force.

Statistics related to use of force

The statistics will cover the facts and files along with the quantitative data related to the use of force.

Pros and Cons of use of force

The pros and cons regarding use of force would include the positive and negative factors related to use of force.

Use of Force of Army in Iraq

The use of force of Army in Iraq should be considered as the last resort to fight against the insurgents.

Overview of use of force

The police represent the legitimate force of governmental control in society. Police officers are charged with enforcing substantive criminal laws, preserving public order, and protecting the citizenry from crime. To achieve these functions, the police are empowered with the legal authority to use coercion, intrude into citizens' private lives, deprive citizens of their liberty through detention or arrest, and employ physical and even deadly force if necessary. The critical role of coercion in the profession has led to the development of a force-centered definition of police that views the police as the main, and sometimes the only, mechanism for the state to distribute nonnegotiable force in handling emergencies in a society. There are various types of police force, which can be roughly classified into two groups: non deadly force and deadly force. The difference between the two lies in the likelihood of causing serious bodily harm or death, with the latter has a greater chance than the former. Sometimes, citizens may be seriously wounded or killed by non deadly force, but it is rarely, if ever, the intention of the police. Policy change and legal justification for the use of force has evolved over the past several decades. The frequency of police use of deadly force is dependent on several groups of factors. There are differing views on police use of deadly force; proponents view deadly force as an occasional necessity in extreme cases, while opponents note that deadly force is used unevenly across social groups. In either case, the use of force is a hotly contested issue (www.wikileaks.org).

History of Use of Force

Police use of deadly force became a central theme in U.S. policing after officers began carrying firearms in the 1850s. Since then, many police departments have prescribed the circumstances under which deadly force could be used. Such departmental policies and regulations largely followed the legal traditions for justifiable use of force. These traditions could be traced back to the early middle Ages, when virtually all felonies were punishable by the death ...