Which statement best summarizes when Graham v. Connor factors should be applied?

• A. Only after the incident is over
• B. At the moment of decision to use force, considering totality of circumstances
• C. Only by supervisors
• D. Only in court during litigation

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that Graham v. Connor factors are applied when the officer is deciding to use force, based on the totality of circumstances known on the scene. The decision is judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene at the time, not with the benefit of hindsight. This means you consider how severe the alleged crime appeared, the threat posed by the suspect, and whether the suspect was actively resisting or attempting to flee, among other factors, as they were perceived in the moment. If you wait until after the incident or rely only on hindsight, you miss the on-scene context these factors are meant to evaluate. Supervisors and courts may later review with more information, but the reasonableness assessment hinges on the on-scene decision using the totality of circumstances.