Police pursuits, often receiving a lot of media attention, have become a topic of concern and priority for both law enforcement and the communities they serve. They often come with high risks for the well-being of community members and for both the police officers involved in the chase as well as for the fleeing suspects. In this brief, we summarize what is known about police pursuits, from both legal decisions and criminological research. We then discuss the impact of this research on police pursuit policy, court decisions, and media reports. We offer suggestions about the need for more development and use of research, and the challenges for research to be integrated into police policies, training, supervision and accountability systems.
Provides overview of current research with policy recommendations and clear applications Presents analysis of police pursuits from a legal perspective Examines operational and public opinion factors about police pursuits Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
Geoffrey P. Alpert
Criminal Justice Administration Evidence-Based Policy Police Organization Police Studies Policing Research Use of Deadly Force