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Force Science

Understanding Force Encounters Through Science and Research

Force Science advances expert decision-making, performance, and honest accountability in public safety. Their team of physicians, attorneys, policing experts, psychologists and human performance researchers focuses on understanding and optimizing how civilians and law enforcement make decisions and perform in high-stress situations.

LATEST ARTICLES
De-escalation and communication skills are key in the fast-paced, unpredictable world of emergency psychiatry
When not confronted with imminent threats, officers can use discretionary time to set the conditions for effective de-escalation
When suspects refuse to follow orders, stop moving or show their hands, officers must know and balance the risk of waiting to see a gun
A 4th Circuit Court of Appeals case has led to policy revisions, training updates and questions as to the relevance of the 21-foot principle
Two recent cases underscore that the 21-foot principle is just a starting point for the evaluation of police use-of-force decisions when facing edged weapons
There is a long “hangover legacy” of court decisions that are not in harmony with the latest human-factors research
Officers expecting a gun to be present are much more likely to shoot a suspect who is holding nothing more threatening than a cell phone
We need more balanced and comprehensive reporting of police use of force against “unarmed” individuals
If officers don’t understand the legal realities of these dicey situations, they run the risk of making matters worse
Officers and their attackers closely agree on one thing: Many cops are simply not ready to defend their lives