When Police Use Force
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-22 — deadly force only when objectively reasonable, and a chokehold only against deadly force
A peace officer may use physical force to the extent the officer reasonably believes necessary to make an arrest of a person reasonably believed to have committed an offense, or to prevent an escape from custody, or to defend the officer or a third person from physical force while doing so.
Who handles this in Connecticut: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Connecticut directory.
- Deadly physical force is justified only when the officer's actions are objectively reasonable under the circumstances at that time, and the officer reasonably believes it necessary to defend against deadly physical force.
- Otherwise only when the officer has reasonably determined there are no available reasonable alternatives, believes it creates no unreasonable risk to a third party, and the person committed a felony involving serious physical injury, with a warning first where feasible.
- A chokehold, or any restraint that impedes breathing or blood flow to the brain, is justified only to defend against deadly physical force.
In judging whether deadly force was reasonable, the factors include whether the person had or appeared to have a deadly weapon, whether the officer used reasonable deescalation measures first, and whether the officer's own unreasonable conduct increased the risk of the situation.
Public Act 26-14 amended this section, in force from 4 May 2026.
The state's own sections are not the only measure of police force. Under the Fourth Amendment, the Supreme Court of the United States has held that force used in an arrest, a stop or any other seizure is judged by objective reasonableness, from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene rather than with hindsight, and that deadly force may not be used to stop a fleeing suspect unless the officer has probable cause to believe the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others. Those holdings are a floor: a state's own constitution and statutes can give more protection than they do, never less.
Sources for this section (3)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-22 — Use of physical force in making arrest or preventing escape
- Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989) — Force during a seizure is judged by objective reasonableness from the officer's perspective at the time
- Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1 (1985) — Deadly force against a fleeing suspect is unreasonable absent probable cause of a significant threat of death or serious injury
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Connecticut attorney.