Police Use Of Force: Does Gender Make A Difference

Abstract

This study addresses the perception of the use of force and some differences that exist between males and females within law enforcement. A survey was distributed to five average sized police departments across the United States to survey the perceptions of the men and women in blue. The hypothesis is that women officers use less force to successfully accomplish the same desired outcomes in police/citizen contacts. At the time of this study, there have been no formal surveys on this subject. The survey response rate was 50% and the responses were tabulated to determine officers' perceptions on the use of force. Many other surveys and articles were reviewed in order to present a true picture of the reality of the force that law enforcement officers use. A survey was conducted in order to contribute to the body of knowledge concerning police use of force, and the differences occurring between genders.