Which statement best describes deadly force?

• A. Force used to detain property
• B. Force necessary to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm, or forcible felony
• C. Force intended to cause scoring injuries
• D. Force used only after contacting a supervisor

Answer: (B)

Deadly force means the kind of force that would likely cause death or serious bodily harm, and it is only justified to prevent an imminent threat of death, great bodily harm, or the commission of a forcible felony. The statement that best describes deadly force matches this standard: it describes using force to prevent an imminent deadly outcome or serious harm, or to stop a forcible felony. This is not about detaining property, nor about intending to cause minor or nonspecific injuries, and it isn’t conditioned on contacting a supervisor first. The emphasis is on immediacy and the severity of the threat.