Use of Force Principles Flashcards
7 cards from real DCJS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Use of Force Principles flashcards as text
Under Virginia law, which standard is used to evaluate whether an officer's use of force was justified?
Answer: Objective reasonableness from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene
Courts apply an objective reasonableness standard, viewing the situation from the perspective of a reasonable officer at the scene without the benefit of hindsight.
Which of the following is NOT one of the Graham v. Connor factors used to assess use of force?
Answer: The suspect's prior criminal history known before the encounter
Graham v. Connor identifies three primary factors: crime severity, immediate threat, and active resistance/flight — prior criminal history alone is not a Graham factor.
An officer uses deadly force against a fleeing felon. Under Tennessee v. Garner, this is constitutionally permissible ONLY if:
Answer: The officer has probable cause to believe the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical harm to others
Tennessee v. Garner (1985) held that deadly force against a fleeing felon is only justified when the officer has probable cause to believe the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious injury.
A subject is passively resisting by going limp and refusing to walk. The appropriate level of force is generally:
Answer: Soft empty-hand control and compliant escort techniques
Passive resistance warrants only the level of force necessary to overcome it, typically soft empty-hand techniques such as guiding or escort holds.
What is the primary purpose of de-escalation techniques in use-of-force encounters?
Answer: To reduce the need for or level of force by stabilizing the situation
De-escalation aims to stabilize volatile situations through communication and tactical repositioning, potentially eliminating the need for force entirely.
Virginia's DCJS standards require officers to use force that is:
Answer: Proportional to the threat and the minimum necessary to accomplish the lawful objective
DCJS standards mandate that force be proportional to the threat level and limited to what is reasonably necessary to achieve the lawful law enforcement objective.
After any use of force, a Virginia law enforcement officer is required to:
Answer: Document the incident and notify a supervisor as required by agency policy
Officers must document use-of-force incidents and notify a supervisor consistent with agency policy, ensuring accountability and review.