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Graham v. Connor

A Supreme Court case involving Dethorne Graham, a diabetic man, and his encounter with police officers.

M.S. Connor

The police officer who initially stopped Dethorne Graham, leading to the Graham v. Connor case.

Substantive Due Process Test

The initial standard applied by lower courts in Graham v. Connor, which the Supreme Court reversed in favor of the Fourth Amendment.

Fourth Amendment

The standard the Supreme Court deemed appropriate for claims of excessive force, replacing the substantive due process test.

Graham v. Connor Significance

This case profoundly impacted police training and use-of-force policies across the United States.

Framework for Courts

Graham v. Connor provides a framework for courts to assess police actions involving force, emphasizing the need to balance individual rights with the challenges faced by law enforcement in dynamic situations.

Misdemeanor Arrest Exception

A situation in Indiana where a law enforcement officer can make an arrest for a misdemeanor without witnessing the crime, based on probable cause and specific exceptions.

Arrest Warrant (Indiana)

An officer can arrest someone for a misdemeanor in Indiana if they have a warrant commanding the person's arrest.

Probable Cause for Felony (Indiana)

If there's probable cause to believe someone committed a felony, an officer can arrest them for a related misdemeanor offense.

Specific Offenses (Indiana)

Misdemeanor offenses where an officer can arrest without being in their presence; examples include battery, domestic battery, and unlawful carrying of a handgun.

DUI/OWI Arrest (Indiana)

An officer can arrest someone for DUI/OWI even if they didn't witness the intoxicated driving, based on other evidence.

Domestic Violence Arrest (Indiana)

Police can arrest for domestic violence, even if not witnessed, based on evidence like witness or victim statements.

Exigent Circumstances

Urgent situations (e.g., medical emergency) where police can forgo obtaining a warrant and make an immediate arrest.

Graham v. Connor (1989)

Landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that established the 'objective reasonableness' standard for evaluating excessive force claims by law enforcement.

Objective Reasonableness Standard

The legal standard that judges the 'reasonableness' of force used by police from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, considering the circumstances.

Irrelevance of Subjective Intent

The officer's motivations are not the focus of analysis; the focus is on whether the force used was objectively reasonable in the given situation.