Electric-Shock Weapons, Tasers and Policing - Critical

In this review of Electric-Shock Weapons, Tasers and Policing the author offers a comprehensive, research-driven look at police use of force. Aimed at students, researchers and policy makers, the book's single biggest contribution is its combination of five years of field research with interdisciplinary perspectives from criminology and science and technology studies, making it the clearest non-medical examination of TASER-style devices available. Readers who want a careful, evidence-based analysis of human rights implications and the role of technology in officer decision making will find this book particularly useful.

Key Features

• Interdisciplinary research: Draws on criminology, socio-legal studies and social psychology to place electric-shock weapons in a broad analytical context.
• Five years of fieldwork: Uses sustained empirical research to move beyond anecdote and challenge common myths about these devices.
• Technology and agency: Applies science and technology studies to show how non-human factors can shape officer discretion and decision making.
• Human rights focus: Examines implications for members of the public and for officers, informing debates on accountability and use of force.
• First non-medical account: Fills a gap in the literature by offering the first book-length non-medical treatment of electric-shock weapons and policing practices.

Who It's For

Academics and graduate students in criminology, policing studies and STS will find this book a valuable resource for teaching and further research, especially those focused on use of force and the sociology of technology. Policy makers and legal professionals interested in human rights and oversight of policing will appreciate the book's evidence-led approach.

Practitioners looking for operational guidance on equipment use should look elsewhere, since the book is analytic rather than a training manual. Casual readers expecting a technical handbook are also likely to prefer more introductory overviews rather than this detailed, research-based account.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a rigorous, research-based challenge to common myths about TASER-style devices and their effects.
• Integrates science and technology studies to reveal how technology influences officer choice and discretion.
• Offers a sustained discussion of human rights implications for both public and police personnel.

Cons

• Not designed as a practical or medical guide, so readers seeking technical specifications or clinical guidance will find it limited.

Specifications

Title	Electric-Shock Weapons, Tasers and Policing
Series	Routledge Studies in Policing and Society
Author	Abi Dymond
Approach	Interdisciplinary research: criminology, STS, socio-legal studies, social psychology
Focus	Non-medical analysis of electric-shock weapons and policing
Research basis	Five years of empirical fieldwork

Our Verdict

Electric-Shock Weapons, Tasers and Policing is a well-researched, thoughtful book for specialists and policy audiences who need an evidence-based critique of TASER-style technologies. Its interdisciplinary framing and focus on human rights make it good value for researchers and decision makers seeking depth rather than practical training material.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover medical effects of TASERs?
The book is explicitly non-medical and focuses on social, legal and technological perspectives rather than clinical outcomes.

Who conducted the research for the book?
The findings are based on five years of empirical research conducted and synthesized by the author, drawing on multiple academic disciplines.

Is this suitable for policy makers?
Yes. The evidence-led discussion of human rights and officer decision making is aimed at informing policy and oversight debates.