The use of force is a heated topic among many people. What is the “Use of Force Continuum”? It is the level of force an officer can use when arresting or subduing a suspect. According to Hicks (2004), “It is considered morally reprehensible for an officer or a sovereign agent to use excessive force without due necessity. However, once the need arises for a proper escalation of force, both the doctrinal theses of just war and the use of force continuum provide for a proper and morally principled use of necessary force” (pg. 255). The use of force continuum was created to guide officers so they are less likely to use excessive force. The officer is expected to use more force than the suspect, but no so that it is deemed excessive. According to Lyman …show more content…
This is a less physical approach for an officer to control a situation. This is when the officer physically grabs the subject when they verbally resists or becomes abusive. This type of technique is used to prevent any further escalation in the situation. The officer will come into direct contact with the subject and will increase the probability that the subject will resist the officer. However, this type of force will most likely result in further escalation of resistance. Also during this phase, the officer will try to deescalate the situation by verbally controlling the subject with phrases such as “Stop” or “Don’t move”. Verbalization is key to try to calm the subject down, but if all fails the officer can use light force to subdue the subject. The third step of the use of force continuum is the “OC” spray or pepper spray. This is considered a step up in the continuum because it is a control technique. This phase is put in a lower level of force because it is less likely to cause physical harm or injury to the subject. This phase can be performed somewhere in between the passive and aggressive stages of the suspect’s
With the articles and past research that I have collected, studies tell us that less than 3 percent of police-citizen contacts involve the threat of physical force by the police. The percentages are higher when the level of force is below lethal force, for instance 20 percent of arrests may involve some type of special or needed force to obtain and control the suspect in able to put him in custody. In the academy, police officers are taught to use equal or greater force to subdue the suspect and do what is necessary to protect the public and also look out for officer safety. Most incidents of force are low level applications such as using the arms, hands, legs, or their bodies to gain control of the suspect. Every police officer is supposed to be trained to a certain standard, and should be able to use the correct amount of force for the situation at hand. Police officers have situational training in the academy on what level of force to use if necessary. All police officers are equipped to handle most if not all situations or levels of force that is need to
Use of Electronic Control Devices (ECD’s) such as the widely used taser X26 at the discretion of police officers can be a very useful tool in order to temporarily disable and obtain custody of a non-compliant suspect. When used appropriately it can even reduce the risk of a suspect physically harming the officer, himself or others through temporary physical incapacitation. However these devices need not be used unnecessarily, and officers who do employ their use liberally and without just cause should not go without appropriate disciplinary measures proportionate to the magnitude of the situation. I would like to shed light on a few examples of ECD use where officer discretion have come under scrutiny.
Over the years, this country has witnessed many cases of police brutality. It has become a controversial topic among communities that have seen police brutality take place in front of their homes. Officers are faced with many threatening situations everyday forcing them to make split second decisions and to expect the worst and hope for the best. Police officers are given the power to take any citizens rights away and even their lives. With that kind of power comes responsibility, that’s one major concern with the amount of discretion officers have is when to use force or when to use lethal force. The use of excessive force may or not be a large predicament but should be viewed by both the police and the community.
Police brutality is a very real problem that many Americans face today. The police carry an enormous burden each day. Police work is very stressful and involves many violent and dangerous situations. In many confrontations the police are put in a position in which they may have to use force to control the situation. There are different levels of force and the situation dictates the level use most of the time. The police have very strict rules about police use force and the manner in which they use it. In this paper I will try to explain the many different reason the police cross the line, and the many different people that this type of behavior effects. There are thousands of reports each year of assaults and ill treatment against officers who use excessive force and violate the human rights of their victims. In some cases the police have injured and even killed people through the use of excessive force and brutal treatment. The use of excessive force is a criminal act and I will try and explore the many different factors involved in these situations.
Strikes may include "Attention Grabbing" in which the shoulders or clothes of a detainee are grabbed and can be shaken. Grabbing is more benign than the "Attention Slap" or the "Belly Slap." These strikes are meant to intimidate and inflict pain with out a noticeable trace...
Just it isn’t a fake scene this is real life. There are six levels of force an officer can use and may have to use doing there time as an officer. The lowest level of force is presence of an officer at the scene and the officer’s body stance. This level of force is used typically whenever an officer first appears to a scene or a call. The second level of force is verbal control or commands. The verbal use of force is when an officer demands you to do something. The third level is physical control. This level involves escort holds, pain or pressure compliance. This force is brought in when a suspect tries to resist arrest or verbal commands. The fourth level is really close to the third, this is serious physical control. This really is when you use carotid control and electronic devices. The carotid control is a kind of choke hold which makes the person want to comply. The fifth level is impact and weapons. This is when you first so your willingness to use your baton by touching it or holding it out. Then possibly cause the suspect to feint so he or she can’t resist again. The last resort is deadly force. Most officer try their hardest to not have to get to this level or even be in a position to which this force is used. But deadly force is drawing your gun, pointing your gun, and, or finally firing your gun. (Police
Most law enforcement agencies have policies that determine the use of force needed. The policies describe the escalating series of actions an officer can take to resolve a situation, first level is officer presence which means no force is used, and just the mere presence can reduce
Over the years, this country has witnessed many cases of police brutality. It has become a controversial topic among communities that have seen police brutality take place in front of their homes. Officers are faced with many threatening situations everyday forcing them to make split second decisions and to expect the worst and hope for the best. Police officers are given the power to take any citizens rights away and even their lives. With that kind of power comes responsibility, that’s one major concern with the amount of discretion officers have is when to use force or when to use lethal force. The use of excessive force may or not be a large predicament but should be viewed by both the police and the community.
A '''use of force continuum''' is a standard that affords law enforcement officials & security officers (police, probation, or corrections) with guidelines as to how much use of force may be used against a repelling subject in a given situation. In certain ways it is similar to the military’s escalation of force. The reason of these models is to clarify, both for officers and citizens, the complex subject of use of force by law officers. They are often vital parts of law enforcement agencies' use of force policies. Although various agencies have developed different models of the continuum, there is no universal standard model (Stetser, 2001, p. 36)
Opponents may state that excessive force is typically used as a method of self-defense, which is a vital component to ensuring that officers go home at the end of each shift. Police officers must take into account not only the lives of others, but their own lives as well. Officers may respond quickly and instinctively in order to protect themselves in a life or death situation. This sort of action is referred to as “Fight or Flight” response. This is an action that takes place in the hypothalamus of the brain, which can cause officers to react according to instinct and disregard any other opposing factors. By working in an environment that can trigger this sort of response for officers, some opponents may believe that the further training of
Coercive power can be the use of extreme force when an officer responds to a disturbance in a unit or the mess hall and the use of force is necessary whether it be the use of a stun gun or physical force to contain the disturbance before it escalates into a full-scale riot. The sex of an officer will also play a role in the exercise of power since men tend to be more aggressive compared to women they will most often rely on threats of force to gain compliance among inmates (Woolredge, & Steiner,
Gul, Zakir, Hakan Hekim, and Ramazan Terkesil. “Controlling Police (Excessive) Force: The American Case.” International Journal of Human Sciences 10.2 (2013): 285-303. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.
• The Use of Force is about a girl who may have Diphtheria, but refuses to open her mouth to let the doctor look at her throat. After much struggle, emotional and physical, the doctor forces her to open her mouth and it turns out she does indeed have the disease.
Excessive force: the use of force beyond the scope of what is truly needed in a particular
Sir Isaac Newton is the man well known for his discoveries around the term, Motion. He came up with three basic ideas, called Newton’s three laws of motion.