How Does Agency Type and Size Influence Use of Force Policies?

• In Event: Police Training and Use of Force

Abstract

In the United States, police officers are granted the authority to use force against citizens (Klahm & Tiller, 2010; Lomenzo, 2024). Given that 53.8 million individuals had contact with law enforcement in 2020 (Tapp & Davis, 2022), use of force remains a widely debated issue. The extent to which officers may use force is shaped by legal rulings, agency policies, and organizational structure. While research has examined the effects of restrictive versus nonrestrictive force policies, less attention has been given to how agency size and type influence the development and implementation of these policies. This study addresses this gap by exploring the relationship between agency characteristics and use of force policy frameworks.

Author

• Kenneth Lomenzo, University of Mississippi