Use of force regulations
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/176330-1.pdf
Law enforcement officers are authorized
to use force in specified circumstances,
are trained in the use of force, and typically
face numerous circumstances during their
careers when use of force is appropriate—for
example, in making some arrests, restraining
unruly combatants, or controlling a disruptive
demonstration.
When the level of
force exceeds the level considered justifiable
under the circumstances, however, the activities
of the police come under public scrutiny.
Incidents involving the use of excessive force
by the police frequently receive attention
from the media, legislators, and, in some
instances, civil and even criminal courts.
Whether the excessive force is aberrant
behavior of individual officers or is a pattern
and practice of an entire law enforcement
agency, both the law and public opinion
condemn such incidents.
This report is one in a series of publications
by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
and the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
that seek to inform public discussion by
examining police use of force from many perspectives.
