Define the Use-of-Force Continuum and its purpose in DT.

• A. A policy restricting any force except verbal commands.
• B. A progressive framework guiding officers to apply only the amount of force reasonably necessary given the circumstance.
• C. A rigid ladder of steps requiring officers to escalate to the maximum force.
• D. A framework for post-incident medical evaluation.

Answer: (B)

The Use-of-Force Continuum is a progressive framework that guides an officer to respond with only the amount of force that is reasonably necessary given the circumstances. It starts with non-force options like verbal commands and clear requests for compliance, then moves through increasingly controlling techniques and leverage, and only progresses to harder impact methods or more serious force if the situation escalates. The purpose is to match the response to the level of threat, maintain control, and prioritize de-escalation and safety whenever possible. Training uses scenarios to help officers assess threat level, maintain distance, and choose the least intrusive option that can safely resolve the encounter, while also providing a basis for documenting decisions in line with policy and law.

It’s not a policy that restricts you to verbal commands only, nor a rigid ladder that forces maximum force, nor a framework for post-incident medical evaluation.