The study used a cross-sectional survey of law enforcement agencies in Maryland, Colorado, North Dakota, Mississippi, and Washington. Within these States, all county sheriffs' departments and all police departments serving a population of 20,000 or more were studied. An administrative questionnaire examined whether the department had written deadly force policies. Other questions examined the specifics of the substantive policies and procedures tyically used by the departments in implementing such policies. The data collection began in September 1980, and questionnaires were sent to 339 law enforcement organizations, yielding a 75 percent return rate. Findings show that a large number of law enforcement organizations do not have written policies on the use of deadly force (more than one-third lack such policies). This is often the result of administrative oversight or the belief that such policies are unnecessary. Departments in rural areas are generally less likely to have written policies and procedures than departments in urban areas. Four general areas should be addressed in devising deadly force policies: (1) a prescription of acceptable conditions for the use of deadly force, (2) specification of the person or position responsible for assuming command at the scene of a shooting incident, (3) specification of appropriate procedures at the scene of a shooting incident, and (4) description of post-shooting procedures relating to the involved officer. Tabular data and six references are provided.