Citation

Chapman C. Police Pract. Res. 2012; 13(5): 421-436.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15614263.2011.596711

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Some experts argue that better-educated police may use less force, but research has been equivocal. In three mainly-minority US cities, 511 officers reported their use of force, acceptance of others' force use, age, experience, ethnicity, and education. Among patrol officers only, education predicted less frequent force and lower levels of force use. Across all duties, including patrol officers, detectives and other, younger officers used more force, but with age controlled, more experienced officers used more force. Those who reported greater use of force were less accepting of use of force in general. These complex relationships may help explain previous contradictory results. Research on excessive force must take officer characteristics into account.