From Verbal Judo to Physical Restraint: A Multi-disciplinary Content Analysis of De-escalation Techniques

• In Event: Poster Session II

Abstract

The United States is currently experiencing incidents of civil unrest in response to police actions. With widespread media coverage of police use of force incidents, police agencies have quickly embraced training that emphasizes de-escalation tactics. However, little is known about the effectiveness of specific tactics or training programs. The current study provides a content analysis of multi-disciplinary research to identify de-escalation techniques used in alternative fields (e.g. nursing, education, mental health). We assess the degree to which these techniques (1) are similar to de-escalation tactics commonly used in police training programs and (2) align with the four elements of the RDFC Interaction Model that explains citizen acceptance and support of police intervention (Sousa & Madensen, 2016). Findings are used to explore how current de-escalation strategies can be modified to enhance police training.

Authors

• Stacey Clouse, University of Nevada Las Vegas

• Logan P Kennedy, University of Nevada - Las Vegas

• Tamara D Madensen, University of Nevada, Las Vegas