For example Elizabeth L. Angeli, Department of Psychology, State University.
This research was supported in part by a grant from the Sample Grant
Program.
Angeli, Department of English, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 55555
Use of force by police officers in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania the police officers are allowed to use deadly and non-deadly force. However the deadly force that my cause serious physical harm or even death should be used with caution. The deadly force can only be used as a last resort when other methods of arrest fail. On the other hand the non-deadly force can be turn out to be highly destructive to people or the property in the surrounding vicinity (Udini.proquest.com, 2014).
Deadly force
Deadly force is defined as the use of force against a culprit in a way that can take his or her life or cause serious harm to his or her body. The use of the deadly for can be caused by a firearm, a sharp pointed or blade like weapon, Use of a lethal chemical or a wooden or metal object like a baseball bat etc. The police or security officer is authorized to execute such an act when his or her life or the life of other civilians is in danger by an offender such as a person using a gun in a public place like a shopping mall or a park etc.
A police officer is justified to use of any force which he believes to be compulsory to arrest a law breaker which he believes to be necessary to defend himself or people around him from bodily harm while making the arrest. However, he is justified in using deadly force only when he believes that such a force is necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury to himself or such other persons (Reference.pafoa.org, 2014)
Advantages of deadly force use
The deadly force has some advantages over non deadly force. The deadly force should only be used as a last resort only. This type of force secures the area and the surrounding individuals in the area or the vicinity. At the same time the threat to the life of the police officer in some situations is reduced.
Disadvantages of deadly force use
The deadly force used by a police officer can prove out to be very costly in terms of civilian security and to the security of the police officers himself. In the use of deadly force the police, since it can take a life of a person or render him or her permanently paralyzed or can do an irreversible damage causing him or her to be a liability for the society. At one hand the deadly force may provide raised security for many people. At the other hand there could be many question that may be raised like what if the offender is a mental patient or psychologically ill or stressed or frustrated. Such concerns need to be addressed.
Non-deadly force
Non-deadly force is the force used against a person at an intensity that would not take his or her life or cause any serious damage to his or her body. Non-deadly force is used against a crime suspect or a culprit when the situation is not too serious to detain him or her. Non-deadly force is supposed to cause minimum damage.
In certain situations a police is allowed to use any non-deadly force that is necessary to make an arrest for any crime (Nationalparalegal.edu, 2014).
Advantages of non-deadly force use
The advantages of non-deadly force is that the damage to human life and property can be prevented. In a non- deadly force the loss the individuals and the property can be minimized. Non-deadly force also enables to save a culprit or offender from injustice who may be sick, medically or financially. There may be social workers that may take interest in the case of such an individual and he or she may have a chance to live a productive life in the future. So the credibility of the non-deadly force use cannot be ruled out.
Disadvantages of non-deadly force use
One of the severe disadvantage of non-deadly use of force is that it can come out to be extremely dangerous or even life threatening for a not a well-trained or unfit police officer including other civilians in the vicinity.
The decision of arrest of a suspect by a non-deadly or a deadly force is always a judgment of the police officer which can turn out to be wrong.
Conclusion
Deadly or non-deadly force can be used in an arrest. The deadly force should only be used against culprits as an action of last resort only to minimize damage to the police officer himself and the people in the vicinity where the crime is taking place.
The non-deadly force is used when the police officer feels no harm to himself and the surrounding people.
The decision to use a deadly or non-deadly force is left completely up to the police officer handling the culprit. However the police officer is also answerable to his actions in the court.
References
Reference.pafoa.org. (2014). 18 pa.c.s. � 508: use of force in law enforcement. [online] Retrieved from: http://reference.pafoa.org/statutes/PA/18/I/5/508/use-of-force-in-law-enforcement/ [Accessed: 31 Jan 2014].
Udini.proquest.com. (2014). Law enforcement use of deadly force and civil liability: a test of the compliance of section 508 of the pennsylvania crimes code to the tennessee v. garner standard - udini. [online] Retrieved from: http://udini.proquest.com/view/law-enforcement-use-of-deadly-force-pqid:1883540041/ [Accessed: 31 Jan 2014].
Nationalparalegal.edu. (2014). Use of force to effectuate arrest and to prevent crime. [online] Retrieved from: http://nationalparalegal.edu/public_documents/courseware_asp_files/criminalLaw/defenses/UseofForce.asp [Accessed: 1 Feb 2014].
