| Garner and Maxwell (PDF) | ncjrs.gov. p. 37 | https://web.archive.org/web/20061004030706/http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/176330-2.pdf#page=13 | Officer presence is the mere presence of a law enforcement officer at a scene. It is the first and most basic level of the use of force continuum. | | |
| The Use-of-Force Continuum | National Institution of Justice Statistics. | https://web.archive.org/web/20150411011037/http://www.nij.gov/topics/law-enforcement/officer-safety/use-of-force/Pages/continuum.aspx | | The mere presence of an officer can often deter crime and defuse situations, without the need for any physical intervention. For example, a police officer may be able to prevent a robbery by simply standing by and watching a group of people acting suspiciously. | |
| Use of Force, Security Guards, use of force, Chris McGoey, security guards expert | crimedoctor.com | McGoey, Chris | https://web.archive.org/web/20150315000546/http://crimedoctor.com/use-of-force.htm | | Verbal commands are clear and understandable instructions given by an officer to a subject. |
| Use- of Force (PDF) | cops.usdoj.gov | https://web.archive.org/web/20150122033047/http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/Use-of-Force.pdf | | Verbal commands can be used to direct a subject's behavior, gain compliance, or de-escalate a situation. For example, an officer may give a verbal command to a subject to drop their weapon or to put their hands up. | |
| Use- of Force (PDF) | cops.usdoj.gov | https://web.archive.org/web/20150122033047/http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/Use-of-Force.pdf | Soft controls are empty-hand techniques used by officers to control a resisting subject. Soft controls are designed to minimize the risk of injury to both the officer and the subject. | | |
| The Use-of-Force Continuum | National Institute of Justice. | https://web.archive.org/web/20150411011037/http://www.nij.gov/topics/law-enforcement/officer-safety/use-of-force/Pages/continuum.aspx | | Examples of soft controls include joint locks, pressure point control, and grappling techniques. For example, an officer may use a joint lock to control a subject's arm or a pressure point control technique to subdue a subject who is fighting back. | |
| The Use of Force Paradigm for Enforcement and Corrections | pss.cc | https://web.archive.org/web/20150415054301/http://www.pss.cc/uofm.htm | Hard controls are empty-hand techniques that have a higher risk of causing injury than soft controls. Hard controls are typically used in more serious situations, where the officer needs to quickly and decisively gain control of a subject. | | |
| The Use-of-Force Continuum | National Institute of Justice Statistics. | https://web.archive.org/web/20150411011037/http://www.nij.gov/topics/law-enforcement/officer-safety/use-of-force/Pages/continuum.aspx | | Examples of hard controls include punches, kicks, and strikes with a baton. For example, an officer may use a hard control technique to stop a subject who is attacking them with a weapon. | |
| Use of Force | crimedoctor.com | https://web.archive.org/web/20150315000546/http://crimedoctor.com/use-of-force.htm | Intermediate weapons are non-lethal weapons that can be used to incapacitate or subdue a subject. Intermediate weapons are typically used when soft and hard controls have failed to gain compliance. | | |
| Escalation of Force - Non-Lethal Effects | marinecorpsconceptsandprograms.com | https://web.archive.org/web/20160509204201/https://marinecorpsconceptsandprograms.com/programs/fire-support/escalation-force-non-lethal-effects | | Examples of intermediate weapons include tasers, pepper spray, and beanbag shotguns. For example, an officer may use a taser to stop a subject who is running away from them or a pepper spray to subdue a subject who is being aggressive. | |
| Use of Force" (PDF) | cops.usdoj.gov | https://web.archive.org/web/20150122033047/http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/Use-of-Force.pdf | Lethal force is the use of deadly force to stop a subject who poses an immediate threat of serious injury or death to the officer or others. | | |
| The (Original) Use of Force Model | pss.cc. | https://web.archive.org/web/20150415054301/http://www.pss.cc/uofm.htm | | Lethal force is the last resort and should only be used when all other options have been exhausted. Examples of lethal force include shooting a firearm or using a deadly weapon such as a knife. | |
| Overview of Police Use of Force | National Institute of Justice. Archived from the original | https://web.archive.org/web/20201202130558/https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/overview-police-use-force | It is important to note that the use of force continuum is a model, not a rigid set of rules. | | |
| Duker, Pieter C.; Douwenga, Hanske; Joosten, Sonja; Franken, Thea (July 2002). "Effects of single and repeated shock on perceived pain and startle response in healthy volunteers". Research in Developmental Disabilities. 23 (4): 285–292. doi:10.1016/s0891-4222(02)00119-1. ISSN 0891-4222. PMID 12365852. | Officers must assess each situation on a case-by-case basis and use the least amount of force necessary to resolve the situation safely. | | | |
| ^ van Oorsouw, W. M. W. J.; Israel, M. L.; von Heyn, R. E.; Duker, P. C. (November 2008). "Side effects of contingent shock treatment". Research in Developmental Disabilities. 29 (6): 513–523. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2007.08.005. ISSN 1873-3379. PMID 17945467. | Officers are trained to use the use of force continuum as a guide, but they must also use their judgment and discretion in each situation. | | | |
| United States of America: Use of electro-shock stun belts". Amnesty International. | | Officers must be accountable for their use of force. They must be able to articulate why they used the amount of force that they did and why they believe that it was necessary. | | | |
| The use of force continuum is not always linear. Officers may need to escalate or de-escalate their use of force depending on the situation. | | | | |
| | Officers must be aware of the potential consequences of using force, both for themselves and for the subject. | | | |
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