Police Uses of Force in the USA: a Wealth of Theories and a Lack of Evidence

RESEARCH QUESTION: How adequate is research in the USA for discovering best policies and practices, and best implementation strategies, for reducing loss of life and injury from police use of force. DATA: This analysis examines police agency policies on the use of force regulation, evaluations of training initiatives, research on supervision, problem officers, and other dimensions of the issues and possible solutions. METHODS: The analysis examines both documented correlates and the strength of causal inference about those correlates of reductions in the use of force. FINDINGS: The analysis concludes that while many promising ideas have been offered, there are few tested strategies that have demonstrated substantial effects in reducing the use of force. There are virtually no successful strategies that have been replicated. CONCLUSIONS: The current proliferation of untested programs may divert effort from a coherent and well-funded program of research to test and select effective policies that are urgently needed.