What does it mean when police use excessive force?

Excessive force refers to force in excess of what a police officer reasonably believes is necessary.

How does excessive use of force affect society?

This results in instances of police use of force that result in injury or death. Although this directly effects minority citizens, it also effects everyone else. Incidents of excessive use of force strain police relationships with all citizens. They also call into question police legitimacy.

What’s the difference between excessive and reasonable force?

While legal experts agree that anything beyond reasonable force needed to subdue a subject is considered excessive force, by definition, reasonable and excessive force are vague concepts. What constitutes as “excessive” is largely based on personal sentiment or judgment calls and varies by jurisdiction.

Which is the best definition of use of force?

There is no single, universally agreed-upon definition of use of force. The International Association of Chiefs of Police has described use of force as the “amount of effort required by police to compel compliance by an unwilling subject” [1].

What qualifies as excessive force?

Ultimately, there is no single definition of excessive force. Each incident of force has to be analyzed individually. But usually, the basic guideline is any level of force greater than the force being used (or threatened to be used) by suspects against officers is considered excessive.

When does the use of force become excessive?

An officer’s use of force is “excessive” if it is likely to result in unjustifiable great bodily harm (serious injury). Most states consider whether a “reasonable person” under the circumstances would have believed that the officer’s use of force was likely to cause great physical harm (including death).

What is considered excessive force by an officer?

Excessive force can be defined as a situation where actions of a law enforcement officer exceeded the minimum amount of force necessary to handle a perpetrator, stop an incident from taking place, or protect others and themselves from harm.

What is an unlawful use of force?

Unlawful force is a power or violence that is directed against a person without that person’s consent. Such an act is punishable as an offense or actionable tort except for a defense (e.g., absence of intent, negligence, or mental capacity; duress; youth; or diplomatic status). However, defense does not include a privilege to use the force.