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Simple English definitions for legal terms
excessive force
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A quick definition of excessive force:
Excessive force is when a police officer uses more force than they need to. This can happen when they are arresting someone or stopping them for questioning. If a police officer uses excessive force, they can get in trouble for it. They can also get in trouble if they don't stop another police officer from using too much force. A jury will decide if the police officer used too much force based on what they thought was necessary at the time.
A more thorough explanation:
Excessive force is when a police officer uses more force than they reasonably believe is necessary. This can happen during an arrest, a stop, or other types of seizures. If a police officer uses excessive force, they can be held responsible for their actions. They can also be held responsible if they do not stop another officer from using excessive force.
For example, if a police officer uses a taser on someone who is already handcuffed and not resisting, that would be considered excessive force. Another example would be if a police officer uses a baton to hit someone who is not posing a threat to anyone.
These examples illustrate the definition of excessive force because in both cases, the police officer used more force than was necessary to control the situation. The use of excessive force can cause harm to the person being arrested or stopped, and it can also damage the relationship between the police and the community they serve.