A taser is a handheld weapon that sends out metal wires with prongs carrying an electrical current that stuns the person who is hit. Typically, it is non-lethal and a better alternative than a firearm. Law enforcement agencies have their own taser policies and use of force policies to allow for both the self-defense of the officer and the protection of the individual from physical harm while stopping any immediate threats. The advantage of using a Taser over other weapons is that it contains a lesser amount of deadly force than a firearm.
Despite the protocols and departmental policies regarding Tasers, there have been incidents of people suffering physical injuries from the prongs and, in some cases, cardiac arrest from the electrical shock after being tased. These situations have led to lawsuits filed by civil rights attorneys against municipalities and their police departments.
The use of a Taser typically allows police to stop unrest with a minimal amount of force and without serious injury. This lesser use of force by the police makes the situation safer for everyone involved in the criminal justice process. In fact, lower voltage taser guns have even been developed to help with concerns regarding the level of electricity being emitted.
The driving force behind the use of the Taser by law enforcement is to allow police officers to do their job with a lesser chance of bodily injury to citizens. But have tasers proven to be an effective method of suppression of criminal activity with a lesser force option?
The results have been mixed. Although in many cases tasers have worked as expected and deescalated difficult situations in other cases they didn’t work as advertised and emitted a larger than expected or lesser than expected stun to the citizen at issue. This instability leaves officers in difficult circumstances where they have to make a decision likely not addressed by their department policy to use alternative means to quell the situation. Sometimes this leads to officers using deadly force which is not what is best for anyone.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal charge (traffic related or otherwise), immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.
