Contextualizing and defining de-escalation in policing
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21177845 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Garth Davies (0009-0003-7830-7985, Simon Fraser University, corresponding author), Stephanie E Dawson (Research and Policy Consulting, Dawson Analytics Inc, Maple Ridge, Canada) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 19-38 |
| Publication date | 2025-01-02 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Police Practice and Research (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1561-4263 • E-ISSN: 1477-271X |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/15614263.2024.2386578 |
| OpenAlex | W4401430119 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 11 |
In light of increasing concerns about use of force, one of the most prominent recommendations for improving policing is ‘de-escalation’. However, despite the hype surrounding de-escalation, a clear definition still is lacking. At the same time, debates about de-escalation have not been grounded in, or informed by, police practice. The lack of a solid definition is problematic in practice, as police struggle with potentially conflicting considerations. This study utilizes interviews with use of force experts and a survey of frontline officers to produce a better understanding of de-escalation. The results highlight the importance of nuance in police-public interactions, which are highly variable. In particular, de-escalation cannot be conceptualized as a one-size-fits-all solution capable of solving all elevated police-citizen interactions. A practical definition of de-escalation must also acknowledge that force may sometimes be required. The perspective that use of force is incompatible with de-escalation does not reflect the realities of policing
De-escalation · Political science · Sociology · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · Law · Policing Practices and Perceptions · Psychology
| Citations per year | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Highly cited | No |