Continuum Of Force Essay

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Continuum of force is defined as or known as a scale of force alternatives, to mediate the level of response used in a given situation. (Sgt. George Godoy) In addition, the force continuum is broken down into six levels that are designed or created to be flexible for the force needed in different situations. According to the National Institute of Justice, “officers are instructed to respond with a level of force appropriate to the situation at hand, acknowledging that the officer may move from one part of the continuum to another in a matter of seconds.” The use of the continuum of force is a helpful guide that helps provide officers with how much force may be used against someone that is resisting in any situation. Sometimes using too much force on a resting individual may resort to them getting injured or even worse killed in the process of an arrest similar to a video that I watched last year by a man being suffocated from the weight of a police officer while he was resisting arrest. So, having certain guidelines or different options of force to go by is helpful when faced with different and unique scenarios. …show more content…

This tool requires no force to be presented and it may be considered to be the best way to resolve a situation. There really isn't any physical harm to anyone at this stage all it is an officer, for example, arriving at a scene and the problem calming down once he arrives. There are no words being spoken with this tool only the body language of the officer is making its presence. This quite similar to when siblings are fighting with one another and the mother enters. Once they feel her presence in the room the dispute that they might have had

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