How is deadly force distinguished from non-deadly force in defensive tactics?

• A. Deadly force is applied only if the suspect is armed.
• B. Deadly force is likely to cause serious bodily harm or death; non-deadly force is applied with the expectation that it will not cause death or serious injury.
• C. They are identical in policy.
• D. Non-deadly force is always used before deadly force.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how force is defined by its likely effects. Deadly force is force that is likely to cause serious bodily harm or death, while non-deadly (less-lethal) force is used with the expectation that it will not cause death or serious injury. In practice, responses are based on the perception of an imminent threat: if there is a reasonable belief that the other person can inflict death or serious harm, deadly force may be justified. If the threat is less severe and can be addressed without causing death or serious injury, non-deadly force is appropriate. Being armed is not the sole determinant, and policies don’t require non-deadly force to be used before deadly force, nor do they treat the two as identical.