Which legal case established factors for excessive force in law enforcement?

The case that established the factors for assessing excessive force in law enforcement is Graham v. Connor. This landmark Supreme Court decision set forth the "objective reasonableness" standard to evaluate claims of excessive force during law enforcement encounters. The ruling emphasized that the assessment of whether a police officer’s use of force is excessive must consider the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, taking into account the facts and circumstances confronting the officer at that moment.

This case arose when a diabetic individual, Connor, experienced a medical emergency while trying to purchase orange juice. The police, suspecting him of attempting to commit a robbery, detained him, which led to the use of force. The Supreme Court held that officers' actions must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer in the same situation, rather than with hindsight, to determine if the use of force was excessive.

Thus, Graham v. Connor serves as a critical precedent in shaping how courts evaluate excessive force claims, ensuring a balance between law enforcement's need to act swiftly in dangerous situations and the rights of individuals to be free from unreasonable force.