Conductive energy devices (CEDs), including the TASER (an acronym for Thomas A. Swift Electric Rifle) have been adopted by thousands of law enforcement agencies because they offer a less-than-lethal method for gaining control of suspects. In this podcast episode, Professors Phil Stinson and John Liederbach of Bowling Green State University discuss their recent research study on the criminal misuse of TASER stun guns by police officers. The purpose of the research is to explore and describe the nature and character of arrest cases that involve the criminal misuse of TASERS by police officers through a content analysis of news articles. The research specifically focuses on factors that were common among the arrest events involving CEDs, especially with regard to the actions and motivations of the arrested officers and how the situational context appeared to influence the criminal misconduct of police officers. Research has shown that CEDs can be effective tools to subdue and control dangerous persons and reduce injuries to law enforcement officers and suspects. Similar to firearms, side-handled batons, and metal flashlights, CEDs can be used excessively and/or inappropriately. These devices offer a less-than-lethal alternative to firearms by allowing police officers to temporarily incapacitate dangerous suspects with an electrical shock. The most popular CEDs are the TASER M26 and X26 models. Both are shaped like a handgun and use nitrogen cartridges to fire two barbed projectiles into the target, delivering an electrical current that temporarily overrides the motor and sensory functions of the suspect, & thereby temporarily incapacitating the target individual. Both TASER models can incapacitate targets up to 35 feet away and penetrate up to one inch of clothing when used in the probe mode. TASERS can also be used at close range in drive-stun mode by pressing the bards directly against the body of the target suspect.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS