Research in Brief: The Use-of-Force "Reasonableness Divide"

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Research in Brief: The Use-of-Force “Reasonableness Divide”

Lorie Fridell, PhD, Professor Emeritus, University of South Florida; Dustin Richardson, PhD, Research Associate, Police Executive Research Forum; and Chris Marier, PhD, Assistant Professor, Appalachian State University

While a significant number of community members perceive that many uses of force are excessive, police agencies and the criminal courts rarely find that force is legally unreasonable. This disconnect—this “reasonableness divide”—between communities and the law has led to significant turmoil, including demonstrations and riots on the streets in communities around the globe. In … Continue reading Research in Brief: The Use-of-Force “Reasonableness Divide”