Course: Introduction / Procedural Law
Graham v. Connor (1989) is a SCOTUS decision where an objective reasonableness standard was adopted for evaluating excessive force claims against the police.
Citation: 490 U.S. 386 (1989)
In the landmark 1989 Supreme Court case Graham v. Connor, the court established an objective reasonableness standard for evaluating claims of excessive force by law enforcement officials. This decision has had a significant impact on police practices and has helped to ensure that law enforcement officials use force only when necessary and in a way that is proportional to the situation.
The case involved a man named Dethorne Graham, who was a diabetic and needed to purchase orange juice to prevent an insulin reaction. Graham and a friend went to a convenience store, but when they entered, the friend quickly left because he saw a police officer. The officer, Connor, noticed Graham acting suspiciously and decided to investigate. He ordered Graham out of the car, and when Graham appeared to be confused and disoriented, the officer forcefully handcuffed him and slammed him onto the hood of the police car. Graham suffered injuries as a result of the incident and filed a lawsuit against the officer, claiming that he had used excessive force.
In the Graham v. Connor decision, the Supreme Court held that the use of force by law enforcement officials must be evaluated based on an objective reasonableness standard. This standard requires that the use of force be objectively reasonable based on the circumstances of the situation. The court emphasized that the reasonableness of the use of force must be evaluated from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene and not with the benefit of hindsight.
The court also established several factors that should be considered when evaluating the reasonableness of the use of force, including the severity of the crime, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officer or others, and whether the suspect is actively resisting arrest or attempting to flee.
The objective reasonableness standard established in Graham v. Connor has had a significant impact on police practices and has helped to ensure that law enforcement officials use force only when necessary and in a way that is proportional to the situation. The decision has also provided a framework for evaluating claims of excessive force by law enforcement officials and has helped to ensure that these claims are evaluated based on a standard that is fair and objective.
The Graham v. Connor decision has been a critical turning point in the way that excessive force claims are evaluated and has helped to ensure that law enforcement officials are held accountable for their actions. The decision has had a profound impact on the criminal justice system and has helped to promote greater accountability and transparency in law enforcement practices.
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Last Modified: 04/06/2023