Fifty-two CED guidelines are presented for consideration, with the understanding that many use-of-force situations can change rapidly and may require officers to make quick decisions about force options. The guidelines are intended to help officers make more informed judgments about CEDs and how and when they should be used to protect themselves and the public. The guidelines cover such topics as suspect resistance levels that indicate CED activation is permissible; the number and duration of CED cycles that can be applied to a person; CED use against populations that may be vulnerable to serious injury or death from a CED; how police should respond to a suspect armed with a CED; and tactical considerations regarding when a CED can be activated. The guidelines and glossary were derived from 2 years of work by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), which has examined the impact that CEDs have had on law enforcement agencies and communities across the country. PERF staff members have conducted two national surveys, one that focused on the state of the field and another that examined circumstances and factors related to deaths that occurred in proximity to a CED activation. PERF also hosted several international symposiums, identified and assessed available studies and reports, reviewed the CED policies of many law enforcement agencies, examined media reports on CED use, and consulted with medical doctors. Appendixes