Baton round

A less-lethal projectile fired from a gun to deliver blunt-force impact, commonly in law enforcement and crowd control. Designs include solid cylinders and flexible projectiles that expand on impact.

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Kinetic energy: The energy an object possesses because of its motion. Its speed and mass help determine the energy transferred at impact.
Crowd control: Measures used to manage or disperse groups of people in public settings. Baton rounds have been deployed to disperse crowds, despite risks to bystanders and protesters.
Eye injury: Damage to the eye or surrounding structures caused by disease or physical injury. Impacts to the face can cause permanent vision loss, including when rounds strike at range.
Rubber bullet: A bullet made partly or wholly from rubber, intended to cause blunt impact rather than penetrate. The label is often used loosely, but rubber bullets are only one kind of impact projectile.
Blunt force trauma: Injury caused by impact or compression without a penetrating wound. This is the intended injury mechanism, though impacts can cause severe internal damage.
Law enforcement: The public function of enforcing laws and maintaining public order. Police use of baton rounds sits within broader decisions about force, necessity, and accountability.
Traumatic brain injury: Brain dysfunction caused by an external mechanical force to the head. Head impacts from baton rounds can cause severe or fatal brain injuries.
Bean bag round: A shotgun-launched fabric projectile containing pellets that spreads on impact. It is a specific flexible baton-round design, with impact behavior distinct from rigid projectiles.
Projectile: An object launched through the air by an applied force. A baton round is a purpose-built projectile whose shape and material affect its flight and impact.
Less-lethal weapon: A weapon designed to reduce the likelihood of death compared with conventional firearms. Baton rounds are classed as less-lethal, not non-lethal, because fatal injuries remain possible.