What standard does Graham v. Connor establish for use of force?

• A. The subjective belief of the officer after the event.
• B. The standard of what the suspect believes about the force used.
• C. The standard is the objective reasonableness standard, evaluated from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene.
• D. The standard is determined by the department's internal policies.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that use of force is judged by an objective reasonableness standard. Graham v. Connor says courts evaluate the force used during an arrest from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, using what the officer knew at the time the incident occurred. This means the assessment isn’t about hindsight or about the suspect’s beliefs, and it isn’t dictated by department policies alone. Instead, it weighs factors such as the seriousness of the offense, whether the suspect posed an immediate threat, and whether the suspect resisted or attempted to flee. The standard balances officer safety with the rights of the person restrained, and it allows for different reasonable conclusions depending on the specific circumstances.