Excessive force is the inappropriate use of violence by law enforcement agencies, with no strict legal definition. Officers are expected to use common sense and reasonable force based on the level of resistance received. Emotional stresses can lead to violations, but strict regulations and media coverage have increased awareness and led to more restrictive rules in some police districts.
Excessive force is a term used to describe the inappropriate use of violence by law enforcement agencies. In terms of legality, excessive force is not strictly defined and is usually based on a set of general guidelines. Some law enforcement officers have stringent requirements on certain weapons and techniques, but in most cases, officers have broad latitude and are expected to use common sense. The general guideline on excessive force refers to how much resistance the officer is receiving. The force is expected to be reasonable compared to the resistance received and officers are only allowed to increase their level of violence if the danger increases.
In many areas, there are very strict “force level” escalation orders. For example, officers are usually supposed to start with warnings and then gradually build up through a series of increases in strength, gradually building to lethal strength. In many areas, the officer is not allowed to increase his strength level until suspicion increases his prime, and this type of regulation helps avoid costly lawsuits and human rights violations.
One issue that leads to law enforcement violations is the emotional stresses involved in law enforcement jobs. Some of the more extreme violations of the excessive force law can occur after high-speed chases. These types of chases can put law enforcement in a state of extreme turmoil and fear. When people are this upset, they may act violently and often use excessive force when arresting someone. Some of the more egregious violations in cases like this can involve officers attacking suspects after they’ve been handcuffed and rendered unarmed.
There are many legal allegations regarding excessive force on an annual basis, but the vast majority of them lead to no convictions. Some critics argue that this is mainly because law enforcement officers receive unfair special treatment from the legal system. Some also argue that even when excessive force is demonstrated, officers are often given light punishments, which can encourage more officers to offend.
One of the driving forces behind many of the major cases of excessive force has been the news media. Since the invention of inexpensive handheld camcorders, there have been several incidents where regular people have captured footage of the police being brutal with suspects. These types of cases have increased awareness of excessive force among the public, and some have led to more restrictive rules in some police districts.
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