The 5 Steps in a Use-of-Force Continuum

Like law enforcement agencies, private security organizations typically have policies that outline how officers can use force while on the job.

These policies are sometimes referred to as the “use-of-force continuum.” They include the levels of force appropriate for a situation and how an officer might move from one level to another to respond in the moment. These policies help ensure that security officers are responding to threats in a lawful and proportional manner.

Here’s what that looks like in theory, based on examples from the National Institute of Justice.