@article{ref1,
title="Use of Tasers on people with mental illness A New Zealand database study",
journal="International journal of law and psychiatry",
year="2011",
author="O'Brien, Anthony J. and McKenna, Brian G. and Thom, Katey and Diesfeld, Kate and Simpson, Alexander I. F.",
volume="34",
number="1",
pages="39-43",
abstract="BACKGROUND: In 2006-2007 New Zealand police deployed the Taser X26 electro-muscular incapacitation device for a twelve month trial across four police districts. Criteria for use of the Taser included &quot;individuals in various states of mental health crisis&quot;. AIMS: To provide a descriptive analysis of the use of Tasers by the New Zealand police; to identify those incidents that involved people in mental health emergencies; and to compare this use with that which occurred in incidents of criminal arrest. METHOD: Descriptive analysis of the police Tactical Operations Database. RESULTS: Tasers were deployed on a total of 141 people in 124 events, and discharged 19 times. Of the 141 subjects, 30 (21%) involved people in mental health emergencies. Tasers were more than twice as likely to be discharged at mental health emergencies (8 of 30; 27%) than at criminal arrests (11 of 111; 10%) (X(2)=5.69; df=1; p=0.017). There were two incidents that involved a Taser being used as part of police response to in-patient mental health services and two incidents involving mental health community residential accommodation. CONCLUSIONS: Introduction of Tasers into policing in New Zealand will disproportionately impact on people with mental illness. Guidelines are needed to manage the future use of Tasers in mental health emergencies.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0160-2527",
doi="10.1016/j.ijlp.2010.11.006",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2010.11.006"
}