High Speed Pursuits

Research Paper # 108321

Criminology > Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminology > Public and Crime

High Speed Pursuits

An analysis of the risks and alternatives to high speed pursuits as part of law enforcement.

1,543 words () | 6 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper examines topics and issues related to high speed pursuits as part of law enforcement. The paper defines the relevant terms and then provides past and current statistics related to these chases. It also discusses policies and the risks that are involved with pursuits. Finally, the paper discusses the alternative solutions to high speed pursuits. The paper contains an annotated bibliography.

From the Paper:

"What the public thinks about pursuits plays an important role in defining policy and procedure. While most of the public supports the officer apprehending a dangerous suspect through a pursuit, that support quickly drops as the crime becomes less serious. One study found that 58% of people interviewed believed pursuits were a necessary part of arresting suspects, the statistic drops to 29% when the element of innocent people possibly getting hurt is mentioned. Further, 64% of those interviewed said that police overreact very often when they do pursue suspects who don't stop. Another study found that more than 80% of respondents approved of pursuing a violent felon, even under high-risk conditions. This same study found that with a low-risk suspect, the number of respondents supporting a pursuit fell to 20%. Even those who support pursuits acknowledge that very few people who flee the police have committed serious crimes (Hill, p. 18)."

Sample of Sources Used:

BLACKS Law Dictionary, Abridged 5th Edition. West Publishing, St. Paul, MN. 1983.
BRANELL, Steven G. and Stroshine, Meghan, S. Towards an Understanding of the Physical Hazards of Police Work. Critical Issues in Policing: Contemporary Readings, 5th Edition. Waveland Press, Long Grove, IL. 2005.
HILL, John. High Speed Police Pursuits: Dangers, Dynamics and Risk Reduction. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. www.fbi.gov/publications/leb/2002/july2002.
JETMORE, Larry F. The Path of the Warrior. Looseleaf Law Publishing, Flushing, NY. 2002.
PINIZZOTTO, Anthony J, Davis, Edward, F., and Miller III, Charles E. Accidental Deaths of Law Enforcement Officers. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. www.fbi.gov/publications/leb/2002/july2002.