Signed by Governor Ned Lamont

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends existing laws to increase police accountability.

Highlights:

• Establishes a peace officer, or authorized official of the Department of Correction or the Board of Pardons and Paroles is justified in using deadly physical force upon another person only when his or her actions are objectively reasonable under the given circumstances at that time, and (Sec. 2.c-1):

• He or she reasonably believes such use to be necessary to defend himself or herself or a third person from the use or imminent use of deadly physical force; or

• He or she has done the following:

• Reasonably determined that there are no available reasonable alternatives to the use of deadly physical force,

• Reasonably believes that the force employed creates no [substantial] unreasonable risk of injury to a third party; and

• Reasonably believes such use of force to be necessary to:

• Effect an arrest of a person whom he or she reasonably believes has committed or attempted to commit a felony which involved the infliction of serious physical injury, and if, where feasible, he or she has given warning of his or her intent to use deadly physical force, or 

• Prevent the escape from custody of a person whom he or she reasonably believes has committed a felony which involved the infliction of serious physical injury and who poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to others, and if, where feasible, he or she has given warning of his or her intent to use deadly physical force.

• Specifies additional factors for the officer to consider (Sec. 2-2):

• Whether the person upon whom deadly physical force was used possessed or appeared to possess a deadly weapon;

• Whether the officer engaged in reasonable de-escalation measures before using deadly physical force; and

• Whether any unreasonable conduct of the officer led to an increased risk of an occurrence of the situation that precipitated the use of such force.

Full Bill Text