{{title}} Use of Force
An evaluation of policing practices
{{{description}}}
{{grade}}
1
Commitment to Life: Does the policy explicitly express a commitment to preserve lives/protect the sanctity of life?
Does the policy explicitly express a commitment to preserve lives/protect the sanctity of life?
2
Force Continuum: Does use-of-force policy establish a use of force continuum that defines types of force or weapons that can be used to respond to different types of resistance?
Does the policy include a use-of-force continuum or matrix?
If so, does the continuum or matrix define the types of force or weapons that can be used to respond to different types of resistance?
3
Limitations: Does use-of-force policy put the following limitations on officers: ban chokeholds and strangleholds; require verbal warnings; prohibit from shooting at moving vehicles; require officers to exhaust all reasonable alternatives before shooting?
Does the policy explicitly prohibit chokeholds or strangleholds (and carotid restraints)?
Does the policy explicitly require officers to give a verbal warning before using deadly force?
Does the policy explicitly prohibit officers from discharging a firearm at or into a moving vehicle (unless the occupants are using deadly force, other than the vehicle itself, against the officer)?
Does the policy state that officers may only use firearms in the defense of life or to prevent serious bodily injury (only after exhausting all other reasonable alternatives)?
An acknowledgement: This project aims to evaluate policy and to give policymakers, organizers, and activists the tools to push stronger policies on police reform.
The authors of Reform/Transform recognize that lived experience and implementation of policy are crucial in their own right and may well differ from the stated policy on the books.
4
Officer Intervention: Does the policy explicitly state that officers must, when possible, intervene to stop the use of excessive force?
Does the policy explicitly state that officers must, when possible, intervene to stop the use of excessive force?
5
Accountability: Does the policy include provisions regarding accountability, such as requiring an incident be reported to a supervisor?
Does the policy state that the incident must be reported to a supervisor?
Does the policy require that a review board review all serious incidents of use of force?
Does the policy require that civilians sit on the review board?
6
De-escalation Training: Does the policy require officers to participate in de-escalation training every year?
Do officers have to participate in a de-escalation training every year?
Does the curriculum include scenario-based training?
7
Public Reporting: Does the policy have explicit, detailed, and regular public reporting requirements?
the type of force?
the type and degree of injury to suspect and officer?
date and time of incident?
location of incident?
officer’s unit, station, and assignment?
number of officers that used force in the incident?
officer’s activity when force was used?
subject’s activity when force was used?
demographic information of officer?
demographic information of subject?
outcome of any investigation?
Are there opportunities for public hearings to report on and explain data?
the names of officers involved in the shooting?
officers’ commands?
officers’ tenure on the job?
the type of firearm or weapon used?
the number of shots fired?
Is local law enforcement required to release this information within 48 hours of the incident?
Is local law enforcement prohibited from releasing mugshots of victims to the public?
Is the policy posted on a website for public viewing?