ANY POLICIES LISTED AS RESTRICTED ARE PROHIBITED FROM BEING RELEASED OUTSIDE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

This page provides access to sample Use of Force policies intended to support law enforcement agencies in the development, review, and refinement of their own agency-specific procedures. Use of Force is one of the most critical and scrutinized aspects of policing, and having clear, consistent, and legally sound policies is essential to both officer accountability and community trust.

The sample policies available on this page may address key areas such as:

Use of force definitions and guiding principles
De-escalation techniques and requirements
Proportionality and necessity standards
Duty to intervene and report
Less-lethal and lethal force options
Documentation and supervisory review
Training and ongoing qualification standards
Response to resistance and post-incident procedures
Reporting requirements and public transparency

These examples are provided for reference only and should not be adopted without careful review. Each agency is responsible for ensuring its Use of Force policy complies with current federal and state laws, case law, and community expectations. Policies should also reflect the agency’s unique mission, size, and operational needs.

Agencies are strongly encouraged to regularly evaluate and update their Use of Force policies, incorporate feedback from legal counsel, training staff, and community stakeholders, and align with best practices set forth by recognized national standards and accrediting bodies.