The Use of Lethal Force by Police: The Effect of Statutory Change

Abstract

Police shootings in Philadelphia over the period 1970-1978 are examined. Descriptive data detailing the incident characteristics of the 459 police shootings that occurred during the period are presented. The data permit an assessment of the justificability of the schooting incidents that is grounded in the governing legal statutes. In addition, the article addresses the issue of police compliance with statutory changes. It is suggested that a department's administrative posture toward firearms use by officers may be more relavant to effective control than statutory change.