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Use of Force in Policing

January 2023 Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Ian T. Adams , Geoffrey P. Alpert

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Abstract

Police officers wield the authority to use force in pursuit of lawful objectives, which significantly impacts the public perception of policing legitimacy. Previous research findings continue to document more questions than answers, but the gaps in knowledge are slowly closing. While various actors review the appropriateness of police use of force, the primary sources for the rules of conduct are the courts, specifically the appellate courts and the U.S. Supreme Court. Technological advancements and theoretical developments offer practitioners and researchers innovative avenues to enhance the capacity to examine, forecast, and regulate the application of police force.

Summary

Police officers have legal authority to use force, but research shows we still have more questions than clear answers about when and how this power should be used. Courts, especially the Supreme Court, set the main rules for what counts as appropriate force, while new technology and research methods are helping both police departments and researchers better study and control how officers use force. Understanding police use of force is crucial because it directly shapes whether the public trusts and views police as legitimate.

(AI-generated summary, v1, January 2026)

Citation Information

Citations: 3 (as of July 2026)

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APA

Ian T. Adams, Geoffrey P. Alpert (2023). Use of Force in Policing. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264079.013.845

BibTeX 
@article{adams2023,
  title   = {Use of Force in Policing},
  author  = {Ian T. Adams and Geoffrey P. Alpert},
  journal = {Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice},
  year    = {2023},
  doi     = {10.1093/acrefore/9780190264079.013.845},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264079.013.845}
}

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