Examining the Effectiveness of TASERS® at Gaining Citizen Compliance

• Published date: 01 October 2020
• Date: 01 October 2020
• Author: Logan J. Somers,Jason R. Ingram,William Terrill,Michael T. Rossler
• DOI: 10.1177/0887403419897953
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0887403419897953

Criminal Justice Policy Review

2020, Vol. 31(8) 1234 –1255

© The Author(s) 2020

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DOI: 10.1177/0887403419897953

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Article

Examining the Effectiveness

of TASERS® at Gaining

Citizen Compliance

Logan J. Somers1, William Terrill1,

Michael T. Rossler2, and Jason R. Ingram3

Abstract

Since their emergence within the field of policing, the use of conducted energy devices

(CEDs) has produced a great deal of debate. However, few empirically rigorous studies

have shed light on the extent to which CEDs (e.g., TASERs) are actually successful

at gaining citizen compliance. As such, we examine 918 TASER cases collected from

three police agencies to assess effectiveness in relation to citizen compliance. Findings

demonstrate that officers generally classify the TASER as effective, but the level of

effectiveness varies depending on whether it was used in probe or drive-stun mode.

Multivariate regression models also identify a number of significant variables related

to TASER effectiveness, including citizen (e.g., height, weight, gender, impairment)

and officer (e.g., gender) characteristics. We discuss the findings in relation to those

found in prior studies, as well as implications for research, policy, and practice.

Keywords

police, use of force, TASER, TASER mode, effective, effectiveness

Introduction

The number of U.S. police agencies authorizing the use of conducted energy devices

(CEDs), primarily TASERs, has increased substantially over the years (Reaves, 2015),

with nearly all departments now permitting their use (Kane & White, 2015). Accordingly,

1Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA

2Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA

3Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, USA

Corresponding Author:

Logan J. Somers, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University, 411 N. Central

Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA.

Email: ljsomers@asu.edu

897953CJPXXX10.1177/0887403419897953Criminal Justice Policy ReviewSomers et al.

research-article2020

Somers et al. 1235

there has been an impressive amount of research across a number of different areas sur-

rounding the weapon. For instance, researchers have examined TASERs with respect

to frequency of use (e.g., Adams & Jennison, 2007; Brandl & Stroshine, 2017), cor-

relates of use (e.g., Brandl & Stroshine, 2017; Gau et al., 2010), continua placement

and policy effects (e.g., Bishopp et al., 2015; Crow & Adrion, 2011), media portrayal

(e.g., Ready et al., 2008; White & Ready, 2009), cognitive impairment (e.g., Dawes

et al., 2014; Kane & White, 2015), and proximate-related deaths (Bozeman et al., 2009;

Zipes, 2012).

In addition, a number of studies have examined TASER effectiveness (e.g., Brandl

& Stroshine, 2017; Kaminski et al., 2013; Lee et al., 2009; Paoline et al., 2012; Terrill

& Paoline, 2012; Thomas et al., 2010; White & Ready, 2007, 2010) Prior work in this

area has varied, however, in terms of what constitutes “effectiveness.” As noted most

recently by Brandl and Stroshine (2017), TASER effectiveness has been conceptual-

ized in a variety of ways, including whether the weapon is associated with fewer offi-

cer and citizen injuries, whether it lessens the need to rely on lethal force, and whether

it generates compliance from resistant citizens. While assessing effectiveness in a mul-

titude of ways may be a strength, the large majority of prior work has focused solely

on injuries and lethal force.

There has been much less attention to perhaps the most straightforward measure of

effectiveness—the extent to which officers themselves indicate whether TASERs were

effective at gaining citizen compliance upon deployment. Moreover, much of the

existing work in this area has relied on data collected from a single agency where only

a fraction of officers were equipped with a TASER, thereby limiting the generalizabil-

ity. This has led to a call for future research to conduct a “multisite analysis of police

agencies that have incorporated the Taser into routine practices” (White & Ready,

2010, p. 97). Finally, prior studies have not delineated between the two distinct modes

of TASER use (e.g., probe and drive stun) and how effectiveness varies between the

modes.

Using data collected from a national use of force project, the present study seeks

to add to the body of literature by examining the relationship between TASERs

effectiveness in terms of citizen compliance and the potential correlates of such suc-

cessful (or unsuccessful) TASER deployments. In total, we examine 918 incidents

from three agencies in an attempt to more fully explore effectiveness within the

context of compliance.

Prior Research

The following review focuses on studies that directly relate to TASER effectiveness. It

begins with a brief discussion of the two most common ways that effectiveness has

been conceptualized, which is whether the weapon reduces officer and citizen injuries,

and whether it reduces the need to use lethal force. We then provide a more in-depth

review of the prior literature regarding the way TASER effectiveness has been mea-

sured in relation to its ability to generate citizen compliance (see Brandl & Stroshine,

2017 and Thomas et al., 2010 for further discussion on assessing effectiveness within