What is deadly force?

• A. Deadly force is any use of force that creates a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily harm.
• B. Deadly force is any use of force that temporarily restrains a suspect.
• C. Deadly force is force used only during a deadly confrontation.
• D. Deadly force is a warning given before force.

Answer: (A)

Deadly force is defined by the risk it presents: any use of force that creates a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily harm to the subject or to bystanders. This criterion distinguishes deadly force from other control methods that don’t carry that level of risk. The answer matches this definition exactly, focusing on the substantial risk of death or serious harm as the defining feature. The other statements aren’t correct because they describe actions or circumstances (temporary restraints, specific confrontation types, or warnings) that don’t by themselves define deadly force.