What is the Graham v. Connor standard used to evaluate police use of force?

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Graham v. Connor sets the objective reasonableness standard for evaluating police use of force, judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene with the facts actually available at the moment of the encounter. This means courts ask: given what the officer knew at the time, was the amount and type of force used reasonable under the circumstances? The standard recognizes that officers often must make split‑second decisions under stress, and it defers to on‑scene judgments rather than judging with the benefit of hindsight. It also considers factors like the seriousness of the offense, whether the suspect posed an immediate threat to the officer or others, and whether the suspect was actively resisting or attempting to flee. This standard is not about the officer’s subjective intent, nor is it a framework for criminal liability. It is used primarily to evaluate Fourth Amendment excessive force claims, typically in civil rights lawsuits seeking damages, rather than as the sole basis for criminal liability.