A '''Continuous Use of Force''' is a standard that provides law enforcement officials and security officers (police, probation, or corrections) with guidelines on how much use of force can be used against a repellent subject in a given situation. In some ways it is similar to the escalation of military force. The purpose of these models is to clarify, for both officers and citizens, the complex issue of the use of force by police officers. They are often vital parts of law enforcement's use of force policies. Although various agencies have developed different continuum models, there is no universal standard model (Stetser, 2001, p. 36). Initial examples of the use of force continuum were developed in the 1980s and early 1990s. Early models were represented in various formats, including charts, semicircular indicators, and linear developments. Most often models are presented with a "stepped" approach, with each level matched to a corresponding level of subject opposition, although it is commonly important that an officer does not need to progress through each level before reaching the final level of strength . These developments are based on evidence that officers should increase and decrease their level of force in reaction to the subject's actions. Although the use of continuous force is primarily used as a training tool for law officers, it is also useful for citizens, such as in criminal cases by police review boards. Specifically, a graphic illustration of sustained use of force is helpful to a jury in deciding whether an officer's use of force was reasonable. While the precise progression of force varies significantly (particularly the wide gap between soft control and lethal force) between different agencies......middle of paper......the police officer must respond to the resistance offered by another. To determine what actions officers believe are reasonable in similar situations, some experts use surveys with law enforcement officers, who are given certain scenarios to determine what actions they would take if they found themselves in certain situations. Knowing what other officials and citizens find reasonable helps create a robust response to the opposition continuum. Works Cited Faulkner, S. (2007). Response to resistance: define what is objectively reasonable. Retrieved from: http://www.responsetoresistance.comStetser, Merle (2001). The use of force in police violence control: Incidents resulting in assaults on officers. New York: LFB Scholarly Publishing LLCDesmedt, John C. (2009). The use of the force paradigm for enforcement and corrections. Retrieved from http://www.pss.cc/uofm.htm