Self Defense Expert Witnesses

Self defense expert witnesses and consultants listed here may be able to form expert opinions, draft expert witness reports, provide expert witness testimony at deposition and/or trial as or serve as consulting (non-testifying) experts on self defense. The self defense expert witness listings on this page are typically from fields/areas of expertise such as: Firearms & Ballistics, Law Enf & Criminal Justice, Police Practices & Procedures, and Video.

Dr. Chuck J. Rylant

Arroyo Grande, California
Police Practices & Procedures, Law Enf & Criminal Justice - use of force, police use of force, law enforcement use of force, self defense, arrest and control, police excessive force, excessive force, defensive tactics, martial arts, strangulation, choke hold, jiu jitsu, fight or flight, stress response, officer involved shooting, police shooting, OIS, taser
Dr. Chuck J. Rylant has 25 years of industry experience and is a Federal and State Court qualified expert witness in use-of-force, de-escalation, self-defense, strangulation, memory, fight or flight, decision making, and other human performance factors. He has a Doctor of Clinical Psychology–dissertation: Decisions Under Pressure: Psychological and Physiological Aspects of Police Use of Force. Dr. Rylant is a retired police officer/detective, S.W.A.T. member, and P.O.S.T. certified department firearms, baton, chemical agents, use of force, and arrest and control (ARCON) trainer. Dr. Rylant was an instructor at a California police academy for 15 years where he taught arrest and control (ARCON), use-of-force, and de-escalation, and he is also a Certified Force Science Analyst and Advanced Force Science Specialist. Dr. Rylant is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt instructor for law enforcement and civilians, as well as author of Shots Fired: The Psychology Behind Officer Involved ...

Barret Kendrick

Firearms | Use of Force | Self Defense | Training

On Target Consulting LLC

Covington, Louisiana
Firearms & Ballistics - firearms, use of force, taser, force on force training, gun safety, concealed carry, gun holsters, conducted energy weapons, firearm human factors, firearms training, gun range safety, self defense, gun range accidents, negligent discharges, accidental firearm discharges, firearm accident
Barret Kendrick is an expert in the field of firearms, use of force, firearms training, and self-defense. With over 40 years of experience in safely working with firearms and more than 15 years of professional teaching experience, he has established himself as an authority in these areas. Barret's extensive knowledge and practical expertise have enabled him to effectively educate and train thousands of students across over 20 states, covering a wide range of topics from firearm-based skills to active killer response training and prevention. Barret brings his wealth of experience to his role as an educator and consultant, working with students in concealed carry, use of force concepts, conducted energy weapons (Taser), security-related concepts, and instructor development certifications. He obtained numerous instructor-level or master instructor-level certifications for defensive shooting with handguns and carbines, range operations and safety, range/shoot house operations, scenario...

Dr. John R. Black, DBA

Expert|High-Stress Decision-Making & Lethal Force

Aragon National Inc.

Redmond, Oregon
Police Practices & Procedures, Video - Use-of-Force, Sensemaking, Decision-making, Jail Operations, Police Training, Patrol Operations, Police negotiations, Crowd Control, Self-Defense, Officer-Involved Shooting, Intelligence, Internal Affairs, Police Mental Health Response, De-escalation, Incident Command, Defensive Tactics, Policy
EXPERT IN USE OF FORCE & LETHAL FORCE INCIDENTS In cases involving force--lethal force, understanding decision-making is as critical as the facts themselves. Whether you are a defense attorney explaining your client’s actions or a prosecutor challenging them, you need an expert who integrates both events and decision-making processes. Dr. Black offers a unique approach, blending quantitative precision with qualitative insight into how individuals make sense of their world. RENOWNED EXPERT IN LETHAL FORCE DECISION-MAKING Dr. Black is a recognized expert with extensive experience in international, federal, and state courts on lethal force, police use of force, officer-involved shootings, and civilian self-defense. His expertise in high-stakes decision-making under pressure offers critical insights. Dr. Black blends forensic analysis with human-centered perspectives, ensuring a balanced view that benefits both defense and prosecution. ADVANCED FORENSIC VIDEO AND QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS ...

Emanuel Kapelsohn

The Peregrine Corporation

Allentown, Pennsylvania
Firearms & Ballistics, Police Practices & Procedures - self-defense, gun accidents, hunting accidents, firearms training, shooting scene reconstruction, holsters, shooting ranges, use of force, use of force policy, involuntary muscular contraction, defensive tactics, weapon retention, pepper spray, Taser, impact weapons, knives, edged weapons
Expert witness since 1984 in civil and criminal cases in state and federal courts nationwide. Practicing attorney. Has been certified as firearms instructor by FBI, NRA, several states and other training authorities. Certified instructor in defensive tactics, baton, Taser, weapon retention, less lethal impact munitions, pepper spray. Certified Force Science Analyst, Advanced Specialist in Force Science, Executive Protection Specialist, and in counter-terrorist and defensive driving. Taught "Police Use of Force" as Adjunct Instructor at Indiana University, Department of Criminal Justice. Served as instructor at two police academies. Presenter at national and international conferences of law enforcement instructors. Has trained and certified firearms instructors and armorers for major law enforcement agencies. Armed, sworn reserve deputy sheriff for over 20 years. Member, Board of Directors, International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors ("IALEFI...

Dr. Ken Lang

Criminal Investigation - Detective (retired)

KEN LANG CONSULTING, LLC

Milligan, Tennessee
Police Practices & Procedures, Law Enf & Criminal Justice - criminal investigation, crime scene analysis, crime scene reconstruction, use of force, death scene, homicide, murder, shootings, self defense, USCCA, NRA, rape, sex crimes, sex offense, sexual assault, violent crime, robbery, police practices, composite sketch
Dr. Ken Lang is a retired 25-year law enforcement veteran with extensive criminal investigation experience who holds a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice and teaches various criminal justice and investigative courses. Lang’s career began with the Havre de Grace Police Department in 1989. He served as a patrol officer for two years until he became employed by the Baltimore County Police Department (BCoPD) in 1991, where he served for the next 23 years. Lang’s police career centered on criminal investigations, dedicating 15 years to investigating violent crimes of rapes, robberies, and murders, and 5 years investigating property crimes. In addition to his primary detective assignment, Lang also served as a certified Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission adjunct police instructor at the BCoPD Academy for 16 years, teaching recruit classes and in-service training sessions. Courses taught included Sex Crimes Investigations, Investigative Resources, Basic Investigator’s Courses...