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Less Lethal Munitions: Are They Really Safe and Effective?

NCJ Number
174283
Journal
Law Enforcement Trainer Volume: 13 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 1998 Pages: 12-20
Author(s)
K Hubbs
Date Published
1998
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Less than lethal munitions, such as rubber bullets and bean bag guns, are in regular use by law enforcement agencies throughout the United States but little information is available to document the actual effects of these munitions.
Abstract
Because law enforcement agencies need adequate documentation to evaluate, support, or defend the use of less than lethal munitions, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is sponsoring a data collection program to fill the void. The purpose of this program is to conduct a nationwide survey of law enforcement and correctional agencies that use less than lethal munitions such as plastic, rubber, and wood projectiles. A computerized database will be established to collect the information and provide a system to evaluate the reliability and effectiveness of less than lethal munitions. The less than lethal munitions report form to be used by the NIJ in data collection is included. 6 endnotes, 2 figures, and 4 photographs