Documenting Police Use of Force investigates deaths that occurred after police used tactics like 'prone restraint' (which is a method of restraining a person by placing them face down on the ground which can pose serious risks including difficulty breathing and psychological trauma), forced-sedation, and the use of weapons such as tasers, batons, and other physical violence such as punching, kicking, and pressure-holds. The film also investigates other so-called "less-lethal force" methods used on citizens during police encounters and arrests. The documentary and accompanying reporting draw on police records, autopsy reports and police body-camera footage, offering the most expansive tally of deaths in the United States.