What are the four elements that determine the use of force?

The four elements that determine the use of force—Ability, Opportunity, Jeopardy, and Preclusion—are critical in assessing whether a law enforcement officer's use of force is justified in any given situation.

Ability refers to the individual's capacity to inflict harm or cause injury. This can be physical strength, weapon possession, or any means that would enable them to pose a threat to another person.

Opportunity addresses the circumstances regarding whether the individual has the chance to exert that ability. For instance, if a person has the ability to cause harm but is restrained or separated from their target, they might not have the opportunity to do so.

Jeopardy encompasses the immediacy of the threat. It is the perception that, without intervention, the individual poses an imminent danger to someone else, which justifies the use of force.

Preclusion involves the requirement that all other options have been exhausted or are unavailable before the use of force is deemed necessary. This principle underscores the importance of using minimal force necessary to control the situation, emphasizing that de-escalation is typically the preferred approach.

These elements establish a framework for evaluating the necessity and legitimacy of force in various confrontations, promoting responsible decision-making in critical situations.