Under the Fourth Amendment, which standard is applied per Graham v. Connor?

• A. Probable cause
• B. Objective reasonableness
• C. Reasonable suspicion
• D. Exigent circumstances

Answer: (B)

Use of force is judged under an objective reasonableness standard. Graham v. Connor holds that the legality of police use of force must be measured from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, based on the facts and circumstances known at the time, not with the benefit of hindsight. The assessment relies on the totality of the circumstances, including the severity of the crime, the immediacy of the threat, and whether the suspect was actively resisting or attempting to evade. This objective lens prevents second-guessing after the fact and focuses on what a reasonable officer would have believed and done in the moment. Other concepts—probable cause, reasonable suspicion, and exigent circumstances—pertain to different aspects of policing (arrest/search, stops, or justification for warrantless actions) and do not define how use-of-force decisions are evaluated.