What is the primary purpose of the use of force continuum?

The primary purpose of the use of force continuum is to guide officers on how to apply force appropriately in a variety of situations. This framework provides law enforcement personnel with a structured approach to determining the level of force necessary to control a subject while considering the circumstances of the encounter, including the threat posed by the subject and the level of resistance encountered.

By having a continuum, officers are trained to assess the situation and respond with proportional force, meaning they can escalate or de-escalate their response based on the actions of the subject. This not only helps to ensure that force is used judiciously and within legal and ethical boundaries, but it also promotes officer safety and the safety of the public. In essence, the use of force continuum seeks to minimize unnecessary harm and emphasizes the importance of using the least amount of force necessary to resolve a situation effectively.

In contrast, escalating conflicts with subjects would be counterproductive and contrary to the principles of de-escalation and proportional response that the continuum aims to uphold. Predicting criminal behavior is not the focus of the use of force continuum, as it is primarily concerned with the appropriate application of force in confrontational situations. Lastly, while the continuum does emphasize the importance of de-escalation and avoiding unnecessary force,