Graham v. Connor established which standard for evaluating the use of force by law enforcement?

• A. Objective reasonableness under the Fourth Amendment
• B. Strict scrutiny
• C. Rational basis
• D. Due process

Answer: (A)

Graham v. Connor tests how courts judge police use of force under the Fourth Amendment. It established the standard of objective reasonableness: the force used is judged from the viewpoint of a reasonable officer on the scene, faced with the situation, not with the benefit of hindsight. The key is what the officer knew at the moment of the encounter and the totality of circumstances surrounding it. That includes factors like the seriousness of the crime being investigated, whether the suspect posed an immediate threat to the safety of officers or others, and whether the suspect was actively resisting or attempting to evade. Because officers often must make split-second decisions, the standard recognizes practical constraints and defers to reasonable actions given the facts available at the time, rather than demanding perfect decisions. Other constitutional standards—such as strict scrutiny, rational basis, or due process—govern different kinds of government actions, not the specific evaluation of force used by police in a stop or arrest.