Graham v. Connor
490 U.S. 386 Supreme Court 1989See … question is "whether the totality of the circumstancesifies a … "reasonableness" of a particular use of force must bejudged from the perspective of … at the moment applies: "Not every push or shove, even if it may later seem unnecessary in the peace of a judge's chambers," Johnson v. Glick, 481 F.2d at 1033, violates the Fourth Amendment. The calculus of reasonableness must embody Page 490 U. S. 397 allowance for the fact thatpolice officers … are oftenforced to make split-second judgments -- in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving -- … Amendment contexts, however, the "reasonableness" inquiry in an excessive force case is an objective onethe question is whether … reasonable" in light of the facts andances … Ohio, supra, at (in analyzing the reasonableness of a particular search or seizure, "it is imperative that the facts be judged against an objective standard"). Anofficer's … Amendment violation out of an objectively reasonableuse of force; … norwillan officer's good … whether the individual officers acted in "good faith" or "maliciously and sadistically for the very purpose of causing harm," is incompatible with a proper Fourth Amendment analysis. We do not agree with the Court of Appeals' suggestion, see 827 F.2d at 948, that the "malicious and sadistic" inquiry is merely another way of describing conduct that is objectively unreasonable under the circumstances.ever … between "malicious and sadistic"behavior and objective unreasonableness may … officers, which our prior cases make clear has no bearing on whether a particular seizure is"unreasonable" … deciding whether force used against a convicted prisoner violates the Eighth Amendment, see Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. at -321, it cannot be reversible error to inquire into them in deciding whether force used against a suspect or arrestee
