Explain the 'objective reasonableness' standard as defined in Graham v. Connor, and how it is applied to evaluate an officer's use of force.

The 'objective reasonableness' standard, as defined in Graham v. Connor, is the legal standard used to evaluate whether a law enforcement officer's use of force was justified under the Fourth Amendment. This standard requires that the use of force be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with 20/20 hindsight. It acknowledges that officers are often forced to make split-second decisions in tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving circumstances. The 'objective reasonableness' standard is not based on the officer's subjective intent or motivation. Instead, the focus is on whether the officer's actions were objectively reasonable in light of the facts and circumstances confronting them at the time. Several factors are considered when applying this standard. One key factor is the severity of the crime at issue. The more serious the crime, the more force may be justified. Another factor is whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officer or others. This is often the most important factor. A third factor is whether the suspect is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight. If the suspect is resisting or fleeing, the officer may be justified in using more force to effect the arrest. Courts also consider any other relevant factors, such as the availability of alternative methods of force, the number of suspects versus the number of officers, and the prior knowledge the officer had about the suspect. For example, if an officer responds to a call about a bank robbery in progress, and upon arriving, sees a suspect fleeing the bank with a gun in hand, the officer would likely be justified in using deadly force if necessary to stop the suspect and prevent them from harming others. This is because the crime is severe, the suspect poses an immediate threat, and the suspect is actively fleeing. The 'objective reasonableness' standard requires a careful balancing of all these factors to determine whether the officer's use of force was justified under the circumstances.