USE OF FORCE
When documenting use of force, the officer should focus on:
A) Defending their actions
B) Describing the emotional stress of the situation
C) Providing a clear, factual account of actions and reasons
D) Including only what was seen by supervisors
C) Providing a clear, factual account of actions and reasons
When does the “duty to intervene” legally begin?
A) After the incident concludes
B) When a supervisor instructs the officer to act
C) Once the officer has knowledge and opportunity to prevent harm
D) Only after video evidence surfaces
C) Once the officer has knowledge and opportunity to prevent harm
Graham v. Connor, the Supreme Court stated that excessive force claims should be analyzed under:
A) The Eighth Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment
B) The subjective intent of the officer
C) The Fourth Amendment’s objective reasonableness standard
D) Departmental policy consistency
C) The Fourth Amendment’s objective reasonableness standard
A drastic change in hygiene and grooming habits may indicate:
A) Normal jail adjustment
B) Attention-seeking behavior
C) Depression or mental deterioration
D) Manipulation
C) Depression or mental deterioration
An effective de-escalation response to a screaming, agitated inmate is:
A) Matching their volume
B) Giving space, using a calm tone, and offering clear options
C) Using direct orders and threats
D) Waiting for them to tire out
B) Giving space, using a calm tone, and offering clear options
Inmates with certain medical conditions (e.g., asthma, heart issues) require extra caution when using force because:
A) They may file more grievances
B) Certain techniques or tools can cause fatal outcomes
C) They're legally protected from all forms of force
D) They are more likely to become violent
B) Certain techniques or tools can cause fatal outcomes
Which statement reflects best practice in correctional culture regarding intervention?
A) Loyalty to fellow officers is the top priority
B) Officers should avoid confrontation with each other
C) Officers should support lawful behavior, even if it means correcting peers
D) It is always safer to report after the fact
C) Officers should support lawful behavior, even if it means correcting peers
Which case law most directly applies to staff liability for inmate-on-inmate violence?
A) Graham v. Connor
B) Farmer v. Brennan
C) Hudson v. McMillian
D) Bell v. Wolfish
B) Farmer v. Brennan
Escalating anger, clenched fists, and fixed eye contact are physical signs of:
A) Shame
B) Confusion
C) Imminent aggression
D) Grief
C) Imminent aggression
An officer tells an upset inmate, “I hear that you’re frustrated. Let’s talk about how we can fix this.” This is an example of:
A) Passive compliance
B) Emotional enabling
C) Empathic reflection
D) Authoritative control
C) Empathic reflection
Which of the following best illustrates a violation of the use of force continuum?
A) Using chemical agents to subdue a combative inmate
B) Applying a takedown technique after verbal commands are ignored
C) Immediately using a baton on a passive-resisting inmate
D) Handcuffing an inmate after a brief struggle
C) Immediately using a baton on a passive-resisting inmate
Which type of liability can an officer face for failing to intervene?
A) Only departmental reprimand
B) Civil and criminal liability, depending on circumstances
C) Only federal charges
D) Union suspension
B) Civil and criminal liability, depending on circumstances
Farmer v. Brennan established which two-prong test for deliberate indifference?
A) Subjective awareness and medical neglect
B) Objective risk and institutional policy
C) Serious risk and staff’s actual knowledge of the risk
D) Injury and denial of care
C) Serious risk and staff’s actual knowledge of the risk
Which of the following behavior patterns requires immediate mental health referral?
A) Repeated complaints about food
B) Reports of hearing voices telling them to harm themselves
C) Refusing to attend recreation
D) Crying after receiving a letter
B) Reports of hearing voices telling them to harm themselves
Which of the following is not a principle of de-escalation?
A) Active listening
B) Avoiding power struggles
C) Rapid escalation to dominance
D) Maintaining calm body language
C) Rapid escalation to dominance
An officer uses force on an inmate who was already restrained and no longer resisting. According to Graham v. Connor, what factor is most relevant in evaluating this use of force?
A) The inmate’s past behavior
B) The officer’s intent
C) Whether the force was objectively reasonable under the circumstances
D) If the use of force was within departmental policy
C) Whether the force was objectively reasonable under the circumstances
What is the most appropriate first step when an officer witnesses another applying potentially excessive force?
A) Publicly confront the officer in front of inmates
B) Request the officer to stop and assess the threat level
C) Document and report it later without intervening
B) Request the officer to stop and assess the threat level
According to Estelle v. Gamble, deliberate indifference requires:
A) Proof that an inmate was treated poorly
B) Proof that jail staff ignored a serious medical need knowingly
C) Evidence that an inmate filed a grievance
D) The presence of serious injury
B) Proof that jail staff ignored a serious medical need knowingly
The clustering of withdrawn, anxious, and suspicious behavior can suggest:
A) Onset of psychosis
B) Avoidance of responsibility
C) Normal jail stress
D) Adaptation to confinement
A) Onset of psychosis
Inmates often respond positively to de-escalation when:
A) They feel respected and have some sense of control
B) They're physically dominated
C) Force is threatened early
D) They’re left alone to “cool off” indefinitely
A) They feel respected and have some sense of control
An officer applies force against a mentally ill inmate who is non-violent but non-compliant. What principle must guide the officer’s decision?
A) Command presence
B) Deference to mental health staff
C) Proportionality and necessity based on threat level
D) Ensuring full compliance at any cost
C) Proportionality and necessity based on threat level
hich of the following is NOT a legally defensible reason for failing to intervene in excessive force?
A) The officer feared retaliation from peers
B) The officer did not witness the event firsthand
C) The officer was unaware of the excessive nature of the force
D) The officer reasonably attempted to stop the use of force
A) The officer feared retaliation from peers
The Hudson v. McMillian decision clarified that:
A) Any use of force must result in serious injury to be unconstitutional
B) Excessive force can violate rights even without serious injury
C) Use of force in jails is always unconstitutional
D) Verbal abuse alone constitutes excessive force
B) Excessive force can violate rights even without serious injury
An inmate who suddenly becomes overly cooperative and submissive may be:
A) Adjusting positively
B) Seeking early release
C) Attempting to manipulate or conceal intentions
D) Responding to a disciplinary hearing
C) Attempting to manipulate or conceal intentions
Tactical pausing in de-escalation allows for:
A) Letting the inmate take control
B) Time for backup to arrive
C) Giving both parties time to reassess and reduce tension
D) Escalating physical responses
C) Giving both parties time to reassess and reduce tension