Under what conditions may deadly force be used on a prisoner who is escaping?

• A. When they have been convicted or arrested for committing a life threatening felony and are escaping.
• B. When the prisoner escapes a non-violent misdemeanor.
• C. If the officer believes there is no immediate danger to others.
• D. In all escapes regardless of felony status.

Answer: (A)

Deadly force to stop an escaping prisoner is justified only when there is an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm to you or others, and there are no reasonable alternatives. If the person has been involved in a life-threatening felony and is actively escaping, the danger they pose remains real and ongoing, so using deadly force to prevent further harm can be lawful under those circumstances. This isn’t appropriate for escapes tied to non-violent misdemeanors, nor is it justified if there is no immediate danger or if other nonlethal options could reasonably stop the threat. It also isn’t correct to apply deadly force to all escapes regardless of the felony status.