The Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) published a review of a Reuters investigation that compiled a database of 1,005 deaths in the United States involving police use of conducted electrical weapons, commonly known by the brand name Taser. The reporting raised questions about the safety of these devices and the lack of comprehensive national tracking of related fatalities.
The investigation identified 1,005 deaths following Taser use. In at least 153 of those cases, coroners or medical examiners listed a Taser as a cause or contributing factor in the death. In many others, it was cited alongside multiple potential contributing factors rather than as the primary cause.
The reporting found longstanding gaps in how deaths following taser use are recorded and classified in the United States. No federal agency maintains a comprehensive national database of taser-related fatalities, leaving researchers to rely on fragmented local records, autopsies, and court filings to reconstruct the scale of incidents.
According to GIJN’s review, Reuters built the database over more than a year by reviewing hundreds of autopsies, filing public records requests in multiple jurisdictions, and searching legal and news databases. The team obtained cause-of-death rulings in 712 of the 1,005 cases identified.
The investigation also examined the role of Axon Enterprise Inc., the manufacturer of taser devices, including how vendor-paid experts were often involved in providing analysis during taser-related death investigations.
Axon’s use-of-force guidelines have changed significantly from earlier deployment standards, according to its 2022 policy. Current guidance warns against chest targeting, sharply limits repeated cycles, and discourages use in situations where drugs or psychosis may make pain compliance less effective.
The investigation found that at least 442 wrongful death lawsuits were filed in connection with the deaths, with 435 naming police departments or municipalities as defendants. Reuters also reported that many cases involved settlements or legal proceedings at the local government level.
The GIJN review notes that these findings are significantly higher than earlier public estimates. Amnesty International, a human rights organization, had previously documented 334 Taser-related deaths by 2008 and more than 500 by 2012, based on its own case tracking and research.
The Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) is an international association of nonprofit investigative journalism organizations. It supports reporters and newsrooms around the world by providing training, resources, tools, and best practices for conducting in-depth and data-driven reporting. GIJN also shares investigative stories, case studies, and methods through its website and conferences, helping journalists collaborate across borders and strengthen accountability reporting.
