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Validation of Concepts Used in the National
Use-of-Force Data Collection
National Use-of-Force Data Collection is a new component of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s
Uniform Crime Reporting Program. The intent for this new data collection is to provide information on
incidents where a use of force by law enforcement results in a fatality, serious bodily injury to a person,
or if a firearm is discharged at or in the direction of a person.
In an effort to provide consistent and reliable information from law enforcement agencies of all types
and from across the nation, we are asking for your perspective on several key concepts that could be
open to interpretation.
Your participation is voluntary, and there are no right or wrong answers. No personally identifying
information is requested from you on this survey, and your individual responses will be confidential. All
results will be used in aggregate to help provide better guidance to the law enforcement community
that choose to participate in the National Use-of-Force Data collection. Completing this survey should
take approximately 30 minutes.

Time of the incident
A key component to understanding when any criminal justice event took place is time.

When the officer(s) arrived at the initial scene of the
event
When the officer(s) first contacted the subject(s)
When the officer(s) used force against the subject(s)

 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No

 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No

 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No

Not typically available

Could be estimated based
upon information available
in the incident narrative

Available as an actual value
from the incident narrative

Available as an actual value
from a question on a form
or data system

There are differences from one law enforcement agency to another in the types of information that is
available to answer questions, and this can include time. Based upon the typically requested
information included in a narrative description or other questions from your agency data systems on
use-of-force events, please indicate whether these times would be available:

 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No

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When a law enforcement officer engages with a member of the public, the interaction can take place
over a span of minutes or hours. Given this understanding, which time would be most representative of
when a use-of-force event took place?





When the officer(s) arrived at the initial scene of the event
When the officer(s) first contacted the subject(s)
When the officer(s) used force against the subject(s)
Other _____________________________________

Location of the incident
An additional component that sometimes does not have a definitive answer is the location of an event.
There are also differences from one law enforcement agency to another in the types of information that
is available to answer questions about location.

Where the officer(s) arrived at the initial scene of the
event
Where the officer(s) first contacted the subject(s)
Where the officer(s) used force against the subject(s)

 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No

 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No

 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No

Not typically available

Could be estimated based
upon information available
in the incident narrative

Available as an actual value
from the incident narrative

Available as an actual value
from a question on a form
or data system

Based upon the typically requested information included in a narrative description or other questions
from your agency data systems on use-of-force events, please indicate whether these locations would
be available:

 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No

When an event begins in one location and ends at another location, which would be most
representative of the location of a use-of-force incident?





Where the officer(s) arrived at the initial scene of the event
Where the officer(s) first contacted the subject(s)
Where the officer(s) used force against the subject(s)
Other _____________________________________

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Does your agency collect any of the following? (Check all that apply)





Address information on calls for service
Geocoded information on calls for service (e.g., latitude and longitude, state plane coordinates)
Address information on recorded criminal incidents
Geocoded information on recorded criminal incidents (e.g., latitude and longitude, state plane
coordinates)
 Address information on use-of-force incidents
 Geocoded information on use-of-force incidents (e.g., latitude and longitude, state plane
coordinates)

Injury
According to the National Use-of-Force Data Collection, the definition of serious bodily injury includes,
“bodily injury that involves a substantial risk of death, unconsciousness, protracted and obvious
disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental
faculty.”
While this question does not take into account situations where multiple injuries may increase the
overall severity of injury to the person, we are interested in understanding which injuries listed below
would you consider to meet the definition of serious bodily injury in of itself?

























Grazing gunshot wound
Penetrating gunshot wound
Internal bleeding
Heart attack/cardiac arrest/cardiac event
External head injury
Brain damage
Unconscious/“knocked out” for less than one minute
Unconscious/“knocked out” for more than one minute
Coma
Abrasions/scratches
Bruising/contusions
Lacerations that do not require stitches
Lacerations that require stitches
Puncture wounds
Canine bite
Loss of teeth
Loss of a finger or toe
Loss of part of a finger or toe
Loss of arm or leg
Apparent broken bones
Neck injury
Eye damage
Burns
Paralysis

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Active aggression
Aggression is a complex concept to identify—especially in law enforcement scenarios. While this
question does not take into account situations where multiple actions may escalate a situation between
an officer and a subject, we are interested in understanding which of the following activities would you
consider to be an act of active aggression in of itself?



































Attempted to escape or flee from custody
Resisted being handcuffed or arrested
Barricading self
Attempting to gain possession of officer’s weapon
Displaying a chemical agent (acid, gasoline, pepper or OC (oleoresin capsicum) spray, etc.)
Using a chemical agent (acid, gasoline, pepper or OC spray, etc.) against an officer
Using a chemical agent (acid, gasoline, pepper or OC spray, etc.) against another person
Displaying an edged weapon
Using an edged weapon against an officer
Using an edged weapon against another person
Displaying an electronic control weapon (e.g., Taser®)
Using an electronic control weapon (e.g., Taser®) against an officer
Using an electronic control weapon (e.g., Taser®) against another person
Displaying a firearm
Using a firearm against an officer
Using a firearm against another person
Displaying a blunt object
Using a blunt object against an officer
Using a blunt object against another person
Directing a vehicle at an officer
Directing a vehicle at another person
Display of hands
Display of fists
Display of feet
Use of hands, fists, or feet against an officer
Use of hands, fists, or feet against another person
Spitting on an officer
Spitting on another person
Bleeding on an officer
Bleeding on another person
Making verbal threats against an officer
Making verbal threats against another person
Yelling or using foul language at an officer
Yelling or using foul language an another person

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Are there other actions that you have encountered in your duties as a law enforcement officer not on
the list above that you would consider to be an act of active aggression?
____________________________________________________________________________________

Armed
If a subject is described as “armed,” which of the following could the subject be in possession of?










Firearm
BB or pellet gun
Knife
Other cutting instrument or edged weapon
Electronic control weapon (e.g., Taser®)
Explosive device
Blunt instrument
Pepper or OC spray
Motor vehicle

Please proceed to the final page of the questionnaire

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To ensure the anonymity of individuals participating in the survey, this
page will be maintained separately from your answers on the previous
pages of the survey.
Agency Information
Please choose the value that best describes your agency










City police
County sheriff
State police
Campus police
Other state agency
Task force
Tribal
Federal
Other ________________________________

Please indicate which region of the United States your agency resides in






Northeast
Midwest
South
West
Other _________________________________

Please select the best description of your current position or role within your agency
Sworn







Chief Executive (Chief, Sheriff, Director, etc.)
Assistant Executive (Deputy Chief, Undersheriff, etc.)
Mid-level management (Captain, Major, Commander, etc.)
Supervisor/Sergeant
Investigator/Detective/Special Agent
Line personnel (Officer, Deputy, etc.)

Civilian





Crime Analysis Unit management
Crime Analysis Unit staff
Records Unit management
Records Unit staff

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