Use Of Force Flashcards
What is the case law regarding the 4th Amendment?
Graham vs Connor and Tennessee vs Garner
What is the standard for Graham vs Connor?
Objective Reasonableness
What is objective reasonableness?
Is the use of force “objectively reasonable” in light of the facts and the totality of the circumstances confronting the officer at the moment?
What are the 4 “totality of the circumstances” points described as
- Is the suspect an immediate threat to officers/others?
- Is the suspect actively resisting arrest OR attempting to evade Seizure by flight?
- Are the circumstances tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving?
- What is the severity of the crime at issue?
Define “Objective”
- Not what the officer assumes
- Only what the officer knows at the moment force is used
- It presupposes that any other “reasonable prudent officer” would have done the same thing in those same circumstances
“Reasonableness” is demonstrated by a proper balance between the:
Nature and quality (how?) of the intrusion and the Governmental interests (why?) behind the intrusion
What is the standard for Tennessee vs Garner?
Objective Reasonableness
In the case of a fleeing felon, deadly force can only be used if:
The Officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect has committed a crime involving the infliction or the threatened infliction of serious physical harm
AND
The use of deadly force is necessary to prevent escape
AND
The officer must give some warning of the imminent use of force if feasible
What does the 8th Amendment cover?
Cruel and Unusual Punishment
What is the standard for the 8th Amendment?
Deliberate indifference and maliciously and sadistically to cause harm
Who does this apply to?
Convicted persons
What are the 5 points to the 8th amendment?
- Was the threat reasonably perceived by the responding officer?
- What was the need/reason for the use of force?
- What was the relationship between the need to use force and the amount of force that was actually used?
- Any efforts made to temper the severity of a forceful response?
- What was the extent of the injuries inflicted?
What does the 14th Amendment cover?
Pursuits and serious medical needs
What is the standard for the 14th Amendment?
Due process, shocks the conscience
Whop does the 14th Amendment apply to?
Free un-seized people