PERF Center on Force & Accountability
1120 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 930, Washington D.C. 20036

Conducted Energy Device (CED) Glossary of Terms
Term
Accidental Discharge
Activate
Active Aggression

Actively Resisting

Aggravated Active Aggression
Air Cartridge
Applicable Response
Arcing/Arching
Automatic External
Defibrillator (AED)
Basis Response
Bodily Injury
CED Cycle
Central Information Display
(CID)
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Fax: 202.466.7826
Website: www.policeforum.org

Definition
The unintentional firing of a conducted energy device (CED).
Depressing the trigger of a CED causing a CED to arc or to fire probes.
A threat or overt act of an assault (through physical or verbal means), coupled with the present
ability to carry out the threat or assault, which reasonably indicates that an assault or injury to
any person is imminent.
Physically evasive movements to defeat an officer’s attempt at control, including bracing,
tensing, pushing, or verbally signaling an intention to avoid or prevent being taken into or
retained in custody.
Deadly force encounter.
A replaceable cartridge which uses compressed gases to fire two probes on connecting wires
sending a high voltage/low current signal into a subject.
Response determined appropriate for the given operational scenario.
Activating a CED with no cartridge.
An apparatus that monitors the heart of the patient and then automatically administers a
controlled electric shock to the chest to restore normal heart rhythm.
Generic responses that describe how people routinely behave as the result of
the application of a weapon or technology [or tactic, or procedure] employed against them.
Injury to the human body that requires treatment by a doctor or other health professional.
Duration of a CED electrical discharge following a CED activation.
Display of data on the back of a conducted energy device.
PERF CED Glossary of Terms
October 20, 2005

Circular Situational Force
Model

Coincidental Injury
Conducted Energy Device
(CED)
Confetti Tags
Continuum of Force/Response
to Resistance

Crowd Control
Crowd Management
Darts
Dart Placement
Dart (Barb) Removal
Defensive Resistance
Deployment
Deadly Force
Discharge
Drive Stun
Duration
Phone: 202.466.7820
Fax: 202.466.7826
Website: www.policeforum.org

A circular force training model that promotes continuous critical assessment and evaluation of a
force incident in which the level of response is based upon the situation encountered and level
of resistance offered by a subject. The situational assessment helps officers determine the
appropriate force option, ranging from physical presence to deadly force.
Injuries received in the incident not directly related to CED use (such as baton use, self-inflicted
wounds, gunshot wounds).
A weapon primarily designed to disrupt a subject’s central nervous system by means of
deploying electrical energy sufficient to cause uncontrolled muscle contractions and override an
individual’s voluntary motor responses.
Confetti-like tags expelled from a cartridge of a CED when fired to shoot probes. Each tag
contains a serial number unique to the specific cartridge used.
A training model/philosophy that supports the progressive and reasonable escalation and deescalation of officer-applied force in proportional response to the actions and level of resistance
offered by a subject. The level of response is based upon the situation encountered at the scene
and the actions of the subject in response to the officer’s commands. Such response may
progress from the officer’s physical presence at the scene to the application of deadly force.
The use of police action to stop the activities of persons assembled.
Observing, monitoring, and facilitating the activities of persons assembled.
Projectiles that are fired from a CED and penetrate the skin; wires are attached to the probes
leading back to the CED.
Point of entry for a probe on a person’s body.
The act of removing a probe from a person’s body or clothing.
Physical actions that attempt to prevent officer’s control including flight or attempt to flee, but
do not involve attempts to harm the officer.
Sending CED devices into the field with law enforcement officers.
Any tactic or use of force that has an intended, natural, and probable consequence of serious
physical injury or death.
Barbs fired at a subject.
To stun a subject with a CED by making direct contact with the body after a CED cartridge has
been expended or removed for pain compliance.
The aggregate period of time that CED shocks are activated.
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PERF CED Glossary of Terms
October 20, 2005

Electrocardiogram Monitor
(ECG/EKG)
Electromuscular
Disruption/Incapacitation
(EMD)(EMI)
Environmental Factors
Excessive Force
Excited Delirium
Exigent Circumstances
Firing
Fleeing
Group Cohesion
Initial Basic Operator
Training
Intentional Discharge
Investigation
Intermediate Weapon
Laser Pointing (Red Dot)
Less Lethal
Less-Lethal Weapon
Measures of Effectiveness
Measures of Response
Objective Reasonableness
Phone: 202.466.7820
Fax: 202.466.7826
Website: www.policeforum.org

The machine that measures and records the electrical activity of the heart.
Effect CED has on the body. Overrides the brain’s communication with the body and prevents
the voluntary control over the muscles.
Factors such as wind speed, temperature, humidity, lighting, precipitation, terrain, etc.
The application of an unreasonable amount (or force too long applied) of force in a given
incident based on the totality of the circumstances.
State of extreme mental and physiological excitement, characterized by extreme agitation,
hyperthermia, epiphoria, hostility, exceptional strength, and endurance without fatigue.
Circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to believe that prompt action is necessary
to prevent physical harm to civilians and/or officers.
Discharging CED darts at a person.
An active attempt by a person to avoid apprehension by a law enforcement officer through
evasive actions while attempting to leave the scene.
The ability to disrupt or control a group of individuals by either restricting or enhancing their
organization, cooperation, and density.
The first basic CED training provided to officers prior to issuance of a CED.
An investigation of the circumstances surrounding the firing or drive-stunning of a CED.
A weapon usage category situated between a verbal command and lethal force on a traditional
force continuum.
Unholstering and pointing a CED at a person and activating the device’s laser dot.
A concept of planning and force application that meets an operational or tactical objective, with
less potential for causing death or serious injury than conventional more-lethal police tactics.
Any apprehension or restraint device that, when used as designed and intended, has less
potential for causing death or serious injury than conventional police lethal weapons.
Measures indicating the degree to which a target response satisfies a requirement within an
operational context.
Measures indicating how a target reacts to a system’s effects.
Reasonableness of a particular use of force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable
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PERF CED Glossary of Terms
October 20, 2005

Onset Time (ideally equal to
zero)
Operational Effectiveness
Operational Safety
Passive Resistance
Pointing/Aiming
Post-Activation Investigation
Primary Injury
(1st Order Effect)
Probe Spread
Proximity Death
Psychological Intimidation
Physical Weapon
Characteristics
Secondary Injury
(2nd Order Effect)
Sensitive Areas
Serious Bodily Injury

Spark Test
Phone: 202.466.7820
Fax: 202.466.7826
Website: www.policeforum.org

officer on the scene in light of the facts and circumstances confronting the officer.
The period between the deployment of a less-lethal weapon system [or tactic, technique, or
procedure] and the point when the magnitude of the desired effect attains some particular
threshold.
That level of force necessary to achieve compliance, safeguard persons and property, or prevent
injury.
That degree of risk determined to be acceptable in order to accomplish a mission without
unduly endangering officers, bystanders, or suspects.
Physical actions that do not prevent the officer’s attempt to control, for example, a person who
remains in a limp, prone position, passive demonstrators, etc.
Unholstering and pointing a CED at a person.
An investigation of the circumstances surrounding the intentional or unintentional firing of
probes or drive-stunning of a CED.
Immediate or delayed consequences of a CED resulting directly from an electrical current flow
in the body.
The amount of distance between probes fired from a CED (e.g., approximately one foot spread
for every seven feet travel distance).
The death of a person that occurred in proximity to the use of a conducted energy device
(usually within 24 hours).
Non-verbal cues in attitude, appearance, demeanor, posture, or physical readiness that indicate
an unwillingness to cooperate, pre-assualtive posturing, or a threat.
The intrinsic qualities of a weapon including dimensional design values associated with a
weapon (weight, caliber, size, power requirement, shelf life, etc.).
Physical trauma indirectly associated with CED use (e.g., injuries from falls).
A person’s head, neck, genital area, and a female’s breast areas.
Bodily injury that, either at the time of the actual injury or at a later time, involves a substantial
risk of death, a substantial risk of serious permanent disfigurement, a substantial risk of
protracted loss or impairment of the function of any part or organ of the body, or breaks,
fractures, or burns of the second or third degree.
Non-contact testing of a CED by arcing it to ensure it is in proper working order.
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PERF CED Glossary of Terms
October 20, 2005

Standard CED Cycle

Substantial Investigation
Target Recovery (ideally full
recovery immediately at the end
of the desired duration)
Unintentional Discharge
Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)
Verbal Non-Compliance

Phone: 202.466.7820
Fax: 202.466.7826
Website: www.policeforum.org

A five second electrical discharge occurring when a CED trigger is pressed and released. The
standard five-second cycle may be shortened by turning the CED off. (Note: If a CED trigger is
pressed and held beyond five seconds, the CED will continue to deliver an electrical discharge
until the trigger is released.)
An extensive investigation into the use of a conducted energy device that is conducted by
investigators outside the chain of command of the firing officer.
The period when the target response falls below a particular threshold and a full recovery of
unimpaired functionality is desired in an operationally meaningful context.
The unintentional firing of a CED (includes discharges caused by involuntary muscle
contraction and mechanical malfunction).
Ventricular fibrillation is a condition in which the heart's electrical activity becomes disordered.
Verbal responses indicating an unwillingness to comply with an officer’s directions.

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PERF CED Glossary of Terms
October 20, 2005