What do the key factors in documenting Use of Force adhere to?

The key factors in documenting Use of Force adhere to the Graham factors, which stem from the Supreme Court case Graham v. Connor (1989). This case established that the appropriateness of an officer's use of force must be evaluated based on the "objective reasonableness" standard, which takes into account not only the situation at hand but also the perceived threats faced by the officer.

The Graham factors specifically consider the severity of the crime at issue, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others, and whether the suspect is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight. By utilizing these factors, officers can critically analyze their actions and ensure they are justified in their use of force, thereby influencing both individual cases and broader agency policies.

In contrast, while improving agency policies, community feedback, and legal expectations are all important considerations in law enforcement practice, they do not specifically address the primary criteria used to evaluate the reasonableness of force applied in any given situation. Understanding the Graham factors is essential for proper documentation and analysis within the context of use of force incidents.