Use of Force Awareness Course (US) 2026
This course is for security officers in the United States who want to understand what the law says about force. It covers reasonable force, self-defense, protecting property, weapons permits, de-escalation and care after force, with examples from California, New York, Florida and Texas. It is awareness only: it teaches no physical techniques and does not replace the use-of-force training or weapons permits your state requires.
Kort svar
Den här gratiskursen har lektioner på cirka 30 minuter och ett prov med 25 frågor. Med minst 80 % kan du ladda ner ett kursintyg (privat, inte ackrediterat). Kontrollerad mot officiella källor den 13 oktober 2026.
Det här lär du dig
- Explain why force must be reasonable and in proportion to the threat
- Describe how courts judge force from the view of a person at the scene
- Compare self-defense and duty-to-retreat rules in New York and Florida
- State the narrow limits on deadly force to protect property
- Name the permits needed to carry a firearm or baton in example states
- Respond safely after force, including the risk of positional asphyxia
Få minst 80 % för att ladda ner ditt certifikat.
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Fråga 1 av 25
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Svar: D. A civil claim against the guard for battery
The BSIS manual uses this example to show that touching someone during an unjustified detention can lead to a battery claim.
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Svar: B. Force readily capable of causing death or serious injury
PL 10.00(11) defines deadly physical force as force that, in the way it is used, is readily capable of causing death or other serious physical injury.
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Svar: D. Non-deadly force, if reasonably needed
Section 776.031(1) allows force other than deadly force when a person reasonably believes it is needed to stop a trespass. Deadly force is allowed only to prevent a forcible felony.
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Svar: B. None, because the person is cooperating
The BSIS manual says that if a subject submits willingly, no force is necessary.
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Svar: C. From the view of a reasonable person on the scene, not hindsight
The BSIS manual explains that under Graham v. Connor force is judged from the perspective of a reasonable person on the scene, rather than with hindsight.
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Svar: A. Peace officers, though it is a useful guide for guards
The BSIS manual notes that Graham v. Connor directly governs peace officers, but it offers a useful framework for thinking about force by guards.
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Svar: D. No more than needed to overcome the resistance
The BSIS manual says reasonable force is not excessive, and the only force allowed is what is reasonable and necessary to overcome the resistance.
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Svar: C. What they reasonably believe is imminent unlawful force
PL 35.15 allows physical force to the extent a person reasonably believes it is needed to defend against the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force.
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Fråga 9 av 25
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Svar: A. They withdrew, said so clearly, and the other person kept attacking
PL 35.15 says an initial aggressor may be justified only if they withdrew, clearly communicated it, and the other person continued to use unlawful force.
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Svar: D. When you know you can do it with complete personal safety
PL 35.15(2)(a) says you may not use deadly force if you know you can avoid it with complete personal safety by retreating, with an exception in your own dwelling.
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Svar: B. When not engaged in crime and in a place they have a right to be
Section 776.012(2) gives a right to stand one's ground when the person is not engaged in criminal activity and is in a place where they have a right to be.
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Svar: B. No; New York requires retreat if safe, Florida does not
Self-defense rules are state law. New York PL 35.15 has a duty to retreat when it is completely safe, while Florida 776.012 has no duty to retreat.
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Svar: D. To protect lives
The BSIS manual states that by law deadly force is allowed only to protect lives. Shooting someone to protect property is an example of excessive force.
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Svar: D. Arson
PL 35.20(1) allows non-deadly force to stop a crime that damages premises, but deadly force only to prevent or stop arson. A separate rule covers burglary of a dwelling or occupied building.
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Svar: C. Only to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony
Section 776.031(2) allows deadly force in defense of property only when a person reasonably believes it is needed to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony.
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Svar: D. The person in fact committed the offense
PL 35.30(4) requires that the person in fact committed the offense. A reasonable belief alone is not enough.
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Svar: B. A reasonable amount of non-deadly force
As the BSIS manual explains PC 490.5(f), a merchant or agent may use a reasonable amount of non-deadly force to detain or to prevent escape or loss of property.
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Svar: B. Complete baton training at a Bureau-approved facility
The BSIS fact sheet says anyone carrying a baton on duty must be a registered guard and complete baton training from a Bureau-approved facility.
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Svar: A. Wear a distinctive uniform showing they are a security officer
Texas Occupations Code 1702.169 requires a commissioned officer carrying a firearm to wear a distinctive security officer uniform, with the firearm in plain view.
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Svar: A. Time, distance, cover and concealment
California law, quoted in the BSIS manual, requires training in tactical methods that use time, distance, cover and concealment to de-escalate.
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Svar: C. At least 2 hours
BSIS requires 8 hours of training each year, including at least 2 hours reviewing appropriate use of force.
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Svar: A. Death caused by a body position that makes breathing hard
The NIJ bulletin defines positional asphyxia as death resulting from a body position that interferes with the ability to breathe.
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Svar: D. Lying face down on the stomach
The NIJ bulletin warns that a stomach-down position makes breathing harder and advises moving a restrained person off their stomach right away.
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Svar: A. Get emergency medical help right away
The NIJ bulletin says to monitor the person and get emergency medical help immediately if breathing problems or loss of consciousness appear.
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Svar: B. Criminal charges, and lawsuits against guard and employer
The BSIS manual lists excessive force as a source of criminal liability, and says guards and their employers can be sued for wrongful acts.
Tangentbord: 1–4 för att svara, Enter för nästa fråga.
Bra att veta före provet
- California's official guard manual says deadly force is allowed only to protect lives, never just to protect property.
- California guards must complete 8 hours of training each year, including at least 2 hours reviewing appropriate use of force.
- New York requires retreat before using deadly force when it can be done with complete personal safety, except in your own home.
- Florida has no duty to retreat for a person who is not engaged in criminal activity and is in a place they have a right to be.
- Holding a person face down after a struggle raises the risk of positional asphyxia, a federal NIJ bulletin warns.
Vanliga frågor
How much force can a security guard use?
Only force that is reasonable and in proportion to the threat, and none when a person cooperates. The exact rules come from state law, so they differ from state to state.
Can a guard use force to protect store property?
The limits are strict. California's guard manual says deadly force is allowed only to protect lives, and New York allows deadly force to protect premises only in narrow cases, such as stopping arson, never for trespass alone.
Does this course let me carry a baton, pepper spray or a firearm?
No. Weapons on duty need state approval and hands-on training. In California, for example, BSIS issues firearms permits and requires baton training from a Bureau-approved facility. This course is background knowledge only.
What is positional asphyxia?
It is death caused by a body position that makes breathing hard, such as being held face down after a struggle. If a person says they cannot breathe, get emergency medical help at once.
Är intyget ackrediterat eller officiellt erkänt?
Nej. Det är ett privat kursintyg, bara för dina kunskaper. Det är inte erkänt, ackrediterat eller godkänt av någon myndighet, tillståndsmyndighet, tillsynsmyndighet eller utbildningsinstitution, och det ersätter inte någon licens, certifiering eller utbildning som krävs enligt lag.
Källor
- BSIS: Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force training manual
- BSIS: Security Guard Training Requirements
- New York Penal Law 35.15 (defense of a person)
- New York Penal Law 35.20 (defense of premises)
- Florida Statutes 776.012 (use of force in defense of person)
- Florida Statutes 776.031 (defense of property)
- Texas DPS: Private Security statutes and rules (Occupations Code Chapter 1702)
- National Institute of Justice: Positional Asphyxia, Sudden Death (1995)