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Title page
Review of literature
Theoretical method
The literature review analyzes the peered- review journals and studies for examining the use of force. The studies explain that police have direct interaction with the officers so they need to make decisions for determining how they must treat them. Police officers use various levels of force during their encounter with the citizens. Two main forces identified by the research studies include lethal and non-lethal forces. Riiksheim and Cherman (1993) stated that knowledge is an important element that influences police behaviour. Research of the past 20 years states that the police is inclined to use force on citizens. Another important thing highlighted by the studies is changes in the use of force and different criteria used by researchers for defining it. The findings of Garner et al., (1995) show that the use of force by police became a common tool in the 1900s to control crime. Klahm and Tillyer (2010) studied the role of different factors on the police force.
The demographic factors that impacts officers decision of using force include ethnicity/ race, gender, age, demeanour, social class and intoxication. The study of Klahm and Tillyer (2010) also uncovered evidence that highlights other encounter factors responsible for the use of force. These factors include weapon, proactive contact, resistance, and arrest. Several studies are considered for providing evidence for building a relationship between encounter factors and the use of force. The findings of the literary studies depict that race/ ethnicity has no positive relationship with the use of police force (Engel et al., 2000; Sun & Payne, 2004; Lawton, 2007). While the results of Terill and Mastrofski (2002) states that race or ethnicity impacts the officer's decision of using force. This proves that non-white citizens are more likely to face force than white citizens. The findings of Terill et al., (2008) also proves that police adopt discriminating attitudes that convince them to use force on black citizens. The study of the relationship between gender and use of force exhibit mixed results. This indicates that police is more likely to use force over male citizens than females. The studies conducted by various researchers confirm that likelihood of using force increase when police encounter males (Garrner et al, 2002, Engel et al., 2000; Sun & Payne, 2004; Lawton, 2007). This also confirms that a higher level of force is employed on males.
Many studies reveal that the use of force also changes with the age of the citizens. The results of the studies indicate that police officers use little force over older suspects (Garrner et al, 2002, Engel et al., 2000; Sun & Payne, 2004). Paonile and Terill (2004) reveal that the use of force over young counterparts is significantly high. Male officers avoid using physical force or violence on older people and the prospects of using force further declines in the case of females. Most of the studies prove the positive relationship between demeanour and force. This indicates that the suspects which adopted disrespectful attitudes towards police officers faced a high level of violence (Garrner et al, 2002, Engel et al., 2000; Sun & Payne, 2004). The studies thus confirm that the citizens who exhibit respectful attitudes towards officers face low risks of physical force (Terill, 2005). This is because officers expect to receive respect. The relationship between social class with force is also positive. This reflects that citizens who belong to the upper social class are less likely to face aggressive treatment from officers. Similarly, citizens that belong to low social class are more likely to experience a physical force (McCluskey & Terill, 2005).
Several studies have identified intoxication as an important factor that affects officers decision of using force. People who are under intoxication influence are more likely to face physical force from the police (Engels et al., 2000). Similarly, citizens that are without intoxication can avoid force. Environmental factors influence officers decision of using force on offenders. The studies reveal that citizens or suspects who possess weapons face high force from officers (Paonile & Terill, 2007; McCluskey & Terill, 2005). In many cases, the police state that the offender was carrying a weapon so the use of force was essential.
The proactive contract is another environmental factor that impacts an officer's decision of using force. The findings indicate that when the officers proactively initiate their encounter with the suspects they use force. This also alarms suspects about the possibilities of physical force (Paonile & Terill, 2007; McCluskey & Terill, 2005). Resistance influence police decision of using force. It states that suspects who resist against officers experience a high force (Garrner et al, 2002, Engel et al., 2000; Sun & Payne, 2004; Lawton, 2007). Compared to them the people who don’t show any signs of resistance don’t face any physical force.
It is difficult to determine the use of force before or after the arrest as limited studies are available on the assessment of this factor. Findings of the literature depict that the presence of more than one officer during an encounter with suspect increases the risks of physical force (Paonile & Terill, 2007; McCluskey & Terill, 2005). Studies have also confirmed that personal characteristics of officers also impact their decisions of using force. Such as those who discriminate among races employ more physical force on blacks than whites. Limited studies are available that prove the relationship of an officer's age with force. The findings however confirm that male officers use more force (Paonile & Terill, 2007; McCluskey & Terill, 2005).
Reference
BIBLIOGRAPHY Klahm, C. F., & Tillyer, R. (2010). Understanding Police Use of Force: A Review of the Evidence. Southwest Journal of Criminal Justice, 7 (2), 214-239.
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