LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide 2/18/2026
Statutes that specifically address use of force by state correctional and
correctional probation officers.
Florida Statutes Chapter 944
Statutes that establish the Department of Corrections has jurisdiction
over the supervisor and protective care, custody, and control of inmates
and offenders.
Florida Statutes Chapter 945
Page 1 LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide.pdf
,LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide 2/18/2026
A term the courts have used to describe the process for evaluating the
appropriateness of an officer's response to a subject's resistance.
Objective reasonableness
The amount of force reasonably necessary to make an arrest.
Appropriate force
Page 2 LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide.pdf
,LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide 2/18/2026
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the reasonableness of a particular use
of force must be judged from the perspective of how a reasonable
officer on the scene would respond, rather than from the 20/20
perspective of hindsight.
Graham v. Connor (1989)
To determine if an officer's actions were objectively reasonable, the
courts look at the facts and circumstances the officer knew when the
incident occurred.
Objective reasonableness determination
Page 3 LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide.pdf
, LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide 2/18/2026
The U.S. Supreme Court has made clear that use of force is NOT a
seizure under the Fourth Amendment.
Use of force and Fourth Amendment
A law enforcement officer is authorized to use only the force reasonably
necessary to accomplish lawful objectives.
Law enforcement officer's authority
Verbal or physical yielding to an officer's authority without apparent
threat of resistance or violence.
Compliance
Page 4 LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide.pdf
Statutes that specifically address use of force by state correctional and
correctional probation officers.
Florida Statutes Chapter 944
Statutes that establish the Department of Corrections has jurisdiction
over the supervisor and protective care, custody, and control of inmates
and offenders.
Florida Statutes Chapter 945
Page 1 LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide.pdf
,LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide 2/18/2026
A term the courts have used to describe the process for evaluating the
appropriateness of an officer's response to a subject's resistance.
Objective reasonableness
The amount of force reasonably necessary to make an arrest.
Appropriate force
Page 2 LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide.pdf
,LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide 2/18/2026
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the reasonableness of a particular use
of force must be judged from the perspective of how a reasonable
officer on the scene would respond, rather than from the 20/20
perspective of hindsight.
Graham v. Connor (1989)
To determine if an officer's actions were objectively reasonable, the
courts look at the facts and circumstances the officer knew when the
incident occurred.
Objective reasonableness determination
Page 3 LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide.pdf
, LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide 2/18/2026
The U.S. Supreme Court has made clear that use of force is NOT a
seizure under the Fourth Amendment.
Use of force and Fourth Amendment
A law enforcement officer is authorized to use only the force reasonably
necessary to accomplish lawful objectives.
Law enforcement officer's authority
Verbal or physical yielding to an officer's authority without apparent
threat of resistance or violence.
Compliance
Page 4 LEO 2025 SOCE Practice Guide.pdf
