NCJ Number
200925
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 31 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 2003 Pages: 373-381
Editor(s)
Kent B. Joscelyn
Date Published
July 2003
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This exploratory study examined the use of force by sheriff law enforcement officers of the Florida Polk County Sheriff’s Office reporting on the types of force used by officers and the characteristics of officers with multiple incidents of the use of force.
Abstract
This study examined the use of force by law enforcement officers of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, investigating the relationship between characteristics of sheriff law enforcement officers and the use of force. The article begins by defining the use of force and explaining the police use of force. The data for the study were obtained from the Sheriff’s office protective action reports and the related offense/incident reports. Under Florida laws, these reports are public record. Various characteristics of the sheriff law enforcement were used to predict the use of force. The study found that White male deputies, younger than 36, with less than 145 months of service, and assigned to patrol duties were more likely to use force. Excluding race, the findings supported the results of other studies of the police use of force. The study also revealed that the reported rate for use of force by members of the sheriff’s office was similar to other agencies with a comparable jurisdiction. Force was used in less than 1 percent of the arrests. Study limitations are presented and discussed. References