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<div class="at-above-post-homepage addthis_tool" data-url="https://blog.lareviewofbooks.org/essays/blue-force-field-justice-system-assumes-impartiality-fails-us/"></div>By <a href="https://lareviewofbooks.org/contributor/justin-campbell">Justin Campbell</a>
“The reasonableness of a particular use of force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 of hindsight. The calculus of reasonable must embody allowance for the fact that police officers are often forced to make split-second judgments-in circumstances that are tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving-about the amount of force that is necessary in a particular situation. The test of reasonableness is not capable of precise definition or mechanical application.” -Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Graham v. Connor (1989)
“Lower courts were asked to use three questions to measure the lawfulness of use of force: First, what was the severity of the crime that the officer believed the suspect to have committed or be committing? Second, did the suspect present an immediate threat to the safety of officers or the public? Third, was the suspect actively resisting arrest or attempting to escape?” -Ken Wallentine, “How to Ensure Use of Force Is “Reasonable and Necessary” and Avoid Claims of Excessive Force” Policeone.com <a href="https://blog.lareviewofbooks.org/essays/blue-force-field-justice-system-assumes-impartiality-fails-us/#more-4674" class="more-link">Read more</a>
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The Blue Force Field: A Justice System that Assumes Impartiality Fails Us All

Justin Campbell is an English professor and freelance writer living in Los Angeles. His work has been published in The Millions and the African-American Review.

Justin Campbell

A Voice in the Wilderness: Micah White

"You can't ignore politics, no matter how much you'd like to." — Molly Ivins

Politics

From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation

Connected Through Oppression: The Past, Present, and Future of the #BlackLivesMatter Movement

Bodies on the Line

The Challenge of Protest in Our Time: Micah White on Social Change Movements, Theories of Revolution, and Moving on from Occupy Wall Street

The Intervention Conversation: The Movement of Black Lives Matter

To Establish Justice at the Gates

There Are Some Things I Just Can’t Tell You About

Justin Campbell is an English professor and freelance writer living in Los Angeles. His work has been published in The Millions and the African-American Review.