What does an officer follow when deciding how much force to use in a situation?

In law enforcement, the use of force continuum is a critical framework that guides officers in determining the appropriate level of force to apply in various situations. This continuum provides a structured approach that helps officers assess the necessity and proportionality of their responses based on the actions of a subject and the circumstances of the interaction.

Officers are trained to start with the lowest level of force necessary for the situation and escalate only as needed, considering the resistance encountered from the subject. Each step of the continuum represents a different level of force, starting from verbal commands and moving up to lethal force, depending on the severity of the threat posed. By abiding by this continuum, officers can make more informed, judicious choices when faced with unpredictable and often dynamic situations, ensuring their actions are justified and legally defensible.

In contrast, while risk assessment guidelines, community engagement protocols, and standard operating procedures are also important elements of an officer's training and operations, they do not specifically address the layered approach to applying force as the use of force continuum does.