Which doctrine was widely followed before the 1960s that allowed police to use deadly force to apprehend a fleeing felon?

• A. Imminent danger standard
• B. Noble cause corruption
• C. Ambiguous
• D. Fleeing felon doctrine

Answer: (D)

Historically, police were allowed to use deadly force against a suspect who was fleeing after a crime under a common-law rule known as the fleeing felon doctrine. The rationale was that permitting an escape would enable the felon to continue or worsen criminal activity, so officers could stop the suspect even if they were not an immediate threat at that moment. This approach was widely followed up through the mid-20th century, including before the 1960s.

Over time, the standard changed. The modern rule, shaped by later court decisions, restricts the use of deadly force to situations where the officer has probable cause to believe the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious harm to the officer or others, rather than simply because the suspect is fleeing. That shift is why the old fleeing felon doctrine is identified as the historical practice in question.