What was the significance of Graham v. Connor?

The significance of Graham v. Connor lies in its establishment of the objective reasonableness standard for evaluating claims of excessive force by law enforcement officers. This landmark case originated from an incident where the plaintiff, Graham, had a medical emergency and was forcibly restrained by police officers who misinterpreted the situation. The U.S. Supreme Court determined that the use of force by police must be judged based on whether it was reasonable under the circumstances as perceived by the officer at the time, rather than with the benefit of hindsight.

This ruling is critical because it provides a clear guideline for determining whether a police officer's use of force is excessive, focusing on the circumstances facing the officer at the moment, including the threat posed, the severity of the crime, and whether the suspect is resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest. The decision clarified that the evaluation is based on what a reasonable officer would have done in the same situation, thereby providing a more standardized approach to addressing excessive force claims in law enforcement contexts.

In contrast to this, other options deal with different legal principles—such as the procedures governing search warrants, Miranda warnings, and the legality of police interrogations—none of which relate to the core issue of excessive force as delineated in Graham v. Connor.