Less-lethal Force? An In-depth Look at 50 Civilians Killed by Conductive Energy Devices in 2015

• In Event: Civilians Killed by U.S. Police in 2015

Abstract

Conductive energy devices (CEDs) were implemented to provide law enforcement with a less-than-lethal force option. However, CEDs were responsible for the deaths of 50 civilians in the United States in 2015. This content analysis examines online news media articles that were linked to each death by “The Counted,” a project being carried out by The Guardian which tracks civilian deaths at the hands of police. To garner a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding deaths by CED, we examine civilian, officer, and community-level characteristics of each of the 50 incidents.

Authors

• Edward H. Byers, University of Louisville

• Bradley A. Campbell, University of Louisville

• Justin Nix, University of Louisville