Which Supreme Court ruling relates to the use of deadly force to prevent an escape?

The correct answer pertains to Tennessee v. Garner, a landmark Supreme Court case that established important guidelines regarding the use of deadly force by police officers to prevent the escape of a fleeing suspect.

In this case, the Supreme Court determined that using deadly force against an unarmed, non-violent suspect who poses no immediate threat to officers or others is unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable seizures. The Court held that officers may use deadly force only if they have probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others at the time of the incident. This ruling fundamentally changed law enforcement policies across the nation, emphasizing the need for officers to evaluate the threat level before resorting to such extreme measures.

This decision is pivotal for police and underscores the balance between the need for law enforcement to apprehend suspects and the rights of individuals, encouraging officers to consider the level of threat posed by a suspect before employing deadly force.