Bill > HB05177

This bill proposes to modify Connecticut's existing law regarding the use of deadly force by peace officers, correction officers, and parole board officials by changing the legal standard for evaluating such force. Currently, the law requires that the use of deadly force be "objectively reasonable" under the circumstances, but the proposed amendment would shift the standard to what a "reasonable officer or official would use" based on the facts and circumstances known to them at the time of the incident. This subtle linguistic change could potentially provide more discretion and flexibility in evaluating an officer's decision to use deadly force, as it focuses on the perspective and understanding of the individual officer in the moment, rather than a strictly objective external assessment. The bill aims to refine how law enforcement use of force incidents are evaluated, with the stated purpose of ensuring peace officers are properly assessed in high-stakes situations where split-second decisions about force are required.

Justice

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB05177&which_year=2025