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6 J. Contemp. Crim. Just. iii (1990)

handle is hein.journals/jccj6 and id is 1 raw text is: 


iii


EDITORIAL COMMENT

Future of Non-Lethal  Weapons

    Twenty-five years ago, as a young police officer, Iremember that ittook
30-50 minutes to obtain a vehicle registration check from the department of
motor vehicles via the placement of a long distance phone call. Today, it
takes less than a minute by way of a computer to obtain the same information.
The field of criminal justice is constantly undergoing change brought about
by enhanced and new  technology.
    What  hasn't changed to any great degree is the reliance on the firearm
as the main type of weapon to provide officer safety and the important ability
to stop and apprehend a fleeing criminal.
    In this issue we present four outstanding articles dealing with the
somewhat  controversial topic of non-lethal force.
    The  article Non-Lethal Weapons: The Potential and the Pitfalls, by
Professors Gilbert Geis and Arnold Binder clearly sets the stage by com-
menting that the police may not really be interested in non-lethal weaponry.
It is followed by a well researched article by Professor Ken Peak entitled
The  Quest for Alternatives to Lethal Force, that includes an excellent
historical profile. Author Dr. Lawrence Trostle includes in his article The
Force Continuum:  From  Lethal to Less-Than-Lethal Force, the practitio-
ner's perception of this sensitive subject matter. Police manager Michael
Biggs conveys the importance of training when using non-lethal tools in law
enforcement.
     As guest editor, I am pleased to offer each of these well written
 contributions to the criminal justice community. I sincerely hope that each
 article will strike a responsive cord in academicians and practitioners. Our
 purpose is to educate and stimulate thought and discussion.





                                                          Leo E. Peart
                                Chief of Police Irvine Police Department
                                                     Irvine, California

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