Author Description

It includes a reproduction of important documents from the Department of Justice and U.S. Military about less-lethal and non-lethal weapons and equipment for military and civilian usage, including a DOD Review of Nonlethal Weapons, A Research Guide for Civil Law Enforcement and Corrections, A Primer on the Employment of Non-Lethal Weapons from the Navy, and an Air Force paper on the Potential Strategic Blessing and Curses of Non-Lethal Weapons on the Battlefield. Under its Less-Lethal Technologies Program, established in 1986, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) the research, development, and evaluation arm of the U.S. Department of Justice provides funds to identify, develop, and evaluate new or improved devices and other technology that will minimize the risk of death and injury to law enforcement officers, suspects, prisoners, and the general public. Many Federal, State, and local civil law enforcement and corrections agencies use less-lethal weapons and equipment to help minimize the loss of life and property. These devices are used to quell prison riots, suppress mobs, and subdue hostile individuals. NIJ has prepared this equipment review to inform Federal, State, and local agencies about the Department of Defense (DoD) Joint Nonlethal Weapons Program and the less-lethal weapons and equipment used by civil law enforcement agencies. This review does not address issues surrounding DoD s Joint Nonlethal Weapons Program or issues related to nonlethal weapons research and development programs. DoD has deployed less-lethal technology under its Joint Nonlethal Weapons Program since 1995, when civil agencies provided less-lethal weapons and equipment, technical assistance, and training to support the U.S. military s redeployment to Somalia. The technology enables U.S. forces to reduce unintended casualties and infrastructure damage during complex missions; discourage, delay, or prevent hostile action; limit escalation where lethal force is not the preferred option;