Controlling Police Use of Excessive Force: The Role of the Police Psychologist

This Research in Brief discusses the role of police psychologists in identifying officers at risk for excessive force and preventing its use and the factors that contribute to use of excessive force by the police. Police psychologists were surveyed to examine the types of services they provide and how those services are used to counter police use of excessive force. The psychologists were also asked to characterize the types of officers who abuse force and to suggest psychology-based intervention strategies that could help police managers reduce excessive force. Of particular interest is whether police departments should rely almost exclusively on preemployment screening to identify violence-prone candidates.