Use of Force Data Collection Program InformationPosted: December 12, 2018 Program Overview Law enforcement use-of-force (UoF) has been a topic of national interest. The opportunity to analyze information related to UoF incidents and to have an informed dialogue is hindered by the lack of nationwide statistics. The FBI, with support of the CBI, believes collection of this data will assist law enforcement in analyzing how and when their officers uses force, and under what circumstances. This type of data can improve the consistency of training and responses. With national data collection, data users can view UoF incidents involving law enforcement from a nationwide perspective. The goal of the resulting statistics is not to offer anecdotal insight into single UoF incidents, but to provide an aggregate view of all incidents and the circumstances involved. This data collection was developed by law enforcement representatives to focus on information that is readily known and can be reported within days of a UoF occurrence. Statistical reports emphasize the collective nature of the data and will not assess whether the officers involved in UoF incidents acted lawfully or within the bounds of department policy. |