Launch of Amnesty International’s report “Deadly Force: Police Use of Lethal Force in The United States”

The use of lethal force continues to make the headlines in the United States, since the public outcry on the killing of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014. Too often, lethal force is used against unarmed, non-threatening persons, with law enforcement officials not being held accountable for taking life in such circumstances. One of the causes that contribute to this situation is the domestic legislation, granting excessive powers to law enforcement officials, in particular with regard to the use of lethal force. PHRP has been closely cooperating with AI USA in the analysis of domestic legislation of all 50 states and Washington DC governing the use of lethal force. In June 2015 AI USA released the report Deadly Force: Police Use of Lethal Force in The United States Lees ook:Read the report: Deadly Force: Police Use of Lethal Force in The United States. The main conclusion of this report is that legislation in all 50 states and Washington DC fails to comply with international law and standards, with nine states and Washington DC even having no laws at all on the use of lethal force by law enforcement officers.