Under Graham v. Connor, the use of force must be what to be deemed legally acceptable?

The requirement under Graham v. Connor that the use of force must be "objectively reasonable at the time" is grounded in the need for law enforcement officers to make split-second decisions in high-stress situations. This standard recognizes that officers may need to assess threats rapidly and act accordingly, based on the circumstances they face at that moment. The "objective reasonableness" standard takes into account what a reasonable officer would have done in similar circumstances, rather than assessing the situation based on hindsight or subjective opinions.

This approach emphasizes that each use of force incident should be evaluated based on the facts available to the officer at the time of the incident, focusing on the severity of the threat posed, the immediacy of the threat, the level of resistance from the suspect, and whether the suspect was attempting to flee. By emphasizing objective reasonableness, the legal standard aims to balance the need for effective law enforcement while protecting citizens’ rights.