Graham v. Connor set what standard for evaluating police use of force?

• A. Reasonable suspicion
• B. Probable cause
• C. Objective reasonableness
• D. Totality of the circumstances

Answer: (C)

Objective reasonableness governs how police use of force is evaluated. Graham v. Connor holds that the reasonableness of a particular use of force is judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, using the facts known to them at the time, not with the benefit of hindsight. The assessment weighs factors such as the severity of the crime, whether the suspect posed an immediate threat, and whether the suspect was actively resisting or attempting to flee. Because the standard focuses on what a reasonable officer would do under those circumstances, the officer’s subjective intent isn’t the deciding factor—the result turns on whether the force used was reasonable and proportional to the danger presented and the situation at hand.