DEFENSE OF LIFE - POLICY ON POLICE USE OF FORCE

Sep 29, 2026

“Defense of Life” policy standard for law enforcement agencies was adopted by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The standard requires accredited agencies to maintain a written use-of-force policy limiting deadly force to situations where an officer reasonably believes another person’s life—or the officer’s own life—is in jeopardy. The approval followed meeting discussions across multiple standards areas, with an extensive field-testing and voluntary accreditation timeline targeting 1983.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Defense of Life policy on police use of force

Adoption and field testing

Commission standards scope

Written use-of-force requirement

Vol.16 No.4 Commission Approves: ## 'DEFENSE OF LIFE'POLICYON POLICE USE OF FORCE The Commission on Accreditation for LawEnforcement Agencies(CALEA),has adopted astandard requiring accredited law enforcementagencies to have a written policy stipulating officersuse deadly force only in defense of a life.Thepolicy,adopted by the Commission last week,isto be field-tested along with the other standardsdeveloped as part of the program. The Commission,which has been developingan accreditation program for law enforcementagencies since late in 1979,met in West PalmBeach,Florida,to approve standards in the areasof role and authority of law enforcement,patroloperations,education,special operations,crimeprevention,internal affairs and intelligence.TheCommission has completed approximately 60 per-cent of the standards areas they intend to address. Lee P.Brown,Commissioner of Public Safetyin Atlanta,Georgia,and the current chair of theCommission,said,"The approval of this standardis significant given the police/community relationsproblems which often result from an unclear lawenforcement agency policy on the use of force.This standard requires that a law enforcementagency state,in writing,its policy on the use offorce.It requires that an officer use a weapon onlywhen the officer reasonably believes that the lifeof another,or the officer's own life,is in jeopardy.” The Commission is working on a large bodyof standards areas,which fall into four majorcategories:role,responsibilities and relationships January 25,1982 ACCREDITATION COMMISSION:Deadly ForceStandard Among Many Actions Taken At PalmBeach Meeting·.,..........1 ATF MOVE:IACP Board Of Officers Endorses TheTransfer Of Functions To Secret Service/Customs..2 SURVEY ON POLICING:Major New CollectionOffered By Police Executive Research Forum AndPolice Foundation In Cooperative Effort. ..5 CRIME AND THE ELDERLY:BJS Study RevealsTrauma And Economic Impact Much Heavier FIELD TRAINING OFFICER:The Russ Arend GangIs Hosting A BigSeminar In Jacksonville In March..7 DEA/FBI COOPERATION:Attorney General AnnouncesMajor FBI Involvement In Making Drug Cases...8 LOCAL RESOURCES:Hartford Department OutfittedIn Protective Vests Through AETNA Donation...9 ANALYZING THE DEA/FBI MOVE:AdministrationHas Taken A Baby Step On Tie Long Effectiveness PUT US ONYOUR MAILING LIST CRIME CONTROL DIGEST is a compre-hensive and independent news summary forthe criminal justice professional and welcomesthe submission of articles and materials re-lating to the criminal justice system.Addressall such information to:CRIME CONTROLDIGEST,Washington Crime News Services,7620 Little River Turnpike,Annandale,Virginia 22003. Page 2 of law enforcement agencies;administration;opera-tions,and auxiliary and technical services.Thesestandards will be implemented in the law enforce-ment field through a voluntary agency accredita-tion program. The accreditation program for law enforcementagencies was initiated through the efforts of fourprofessional law enforcement associations:theInternational Association of Chiefs of Police(IACP),National Organization of Black Law EnforcementExecutives(NOBLE),National Sheriff's Association(NSA)and Police Executive Research Forum(PERF).These associations a pointed the members of theCommission and have been involved in preparingdraft standards for review and approval by theCommission. The Commission expects to complete thestandards at the next meeting,scheduled for April27-May 1 in San Diego,California.Followingthis preliminary approval of the standards,theCommission will undertake an extensive field test-ing effort for the entire program.The standardsare to be used as the basis for accreditation,whichshould begin in June of 1983. James V.Cotter,executive director of theCommission said,"Law enforcement needs thesestandards more every day.With an increased focuson fighting crime in a cost-effective manner,weneed to do everything within our reach to promoteefficie

FAQs

What does the “Defense of Life” standard require officers to do?

Officers must use deadly force only when they reasonably believe another person’s life—or their own life—is in jeopardy.

What did CALEA adopt regarding police use of force?

CALEA adopted a standard requiring accredited agencies to have a written policy stating their use-of-force rules, including when deadly force is justified.

How will the approved standard be implemented before accreditation begins?

The Commission plans extensive field testing of the entire program, after which the standards will be used as the basis for accreditation starting in June 1983.

Sep 29, 2026

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