What type of force is likely to cause serious bodily injury or death?

Lethal force refers to the use of physical force that is likely to result in serious bodily injury or death. This form of force is often employed in situations where there is an imminent threat to life, such as in self-defense or in the defense of others when there is no reasonable alternative to prevent harm. The term 'lethal' signifies a potential for fatal outcomes, thus clearly categorizing it as the most extreme level of force available in law enforcement or self-defense scenarios.

In contrast, excessive force generally indicates the inappropriate use of greater force than is necessary for the situation but does not inherently imply a likelihood of causing death or serious injury. Non-lethal force includes methods aimed at subduing an individual without causing permanent harm or death, such as using physical restraints or chemical agents like pepper spray. Finally, passive resistance describes a situation where an individual refuses to cooperate without employing any form of physical force, which poses minimal risk of injury to either the individual or the responder. Therefore, lethal force is definitively identified as the type of force most capable of resulting in severe consequences, including death.