Use of Force Continuum Flashcards
7 cards from real ASO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Use of Force Continuum flashcards as text
A security officer encounters a large subject who is actively assaulting a bystander. Which response best aligns with the use-of-force continuum?
Answer: Verbally warn, then escalate to appropriate force to stop the assault
Active aggression toward others justifies escalating to a force level sufficient to stop the assault, beginning with verbal commands if safely possible.
Which factor is considered when applying the 'totality of circumstances' test for use of force?
Answer: The severity of the crime, whether the subject poses an immediate threat, and whether the subject is resisting arrest
Courts assess the totality of circumstances by weighing the crime's severity, the immediacy of the threat, and the subject's level of resistance when evaluating force.
OC (oleoresin capsicum) spray is classified under which category of the use-of-force continuum?
Answer: Intermediate/less-lethal force
OC spray is a less-lethal intermediate force option designed to temporarily incapacitate without causing permanent injury.
When is it appropriate to bypass lower levels of the use-of-force continuum?
Answer: When a subject presents an immediate deadly threat requiring rapid response
An immediate deadly threat justifies bypassing lower continuum levels because the officer may not have time for a gradual escalation.
After using force, a security officer's documentation should include:
Answer: The subject's behavior, officer's actions, and justification at each escalation point
Thorough documentation must capture the subject's conduct, each use-of-force decision, and the reasoning behind escalation to support legal and administrative review.
Which action demonstrates proper use of 'de-escalation' within the continuum?
Answer: Stepping back and reissuing calm verbal commands when a subject begins to comply
De-escalation involves reducing force and reestablishing verbal communication when the subject's threat level decreases.
An officer who uses force must be able to articulate that the force was:
Answer: Necessary, proportional, and objectively reasonable
Officers must be able to clearly explain that force was necessary, matched the threat level, and would be considered reasonable by an objective officer in the same situation.