Use of Force Under the SAFE-T Act
An 8-hour course on Illinois use of force law for police officers, certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.
- Length
- 8 hours, including a 1-hour lunch
- Availability
- In-house training for member departments of NEMRT (MTU-3) and the Tri-River Police Training Association (MTU-16) in the Chicagoland area
- Certification
- Certified by ILETSB as of June 2025
About the course
The course covers recent changes to Illinois law and how those changes affect officers' use of force decisions in light of the longstanding Graham v. Connor and Tennessee v. Garner standards. It also covers civil and criminal liability under Illinois and federal law, with special attention to the response to domestic violence incidents.
Course description
The use of force, particularly deadly force, is the most serious power granted to police officers in Illinois. The SAFE-T Act standards go beyond the minimum constitutional requirements established by Graham v. Connor. Students learn the difference between criminal and civil liability when using force, their legal obligations when using force or not using force, and the specific requirements of the Illinois use of force statutes. They also learn how pre-force conduct affects reasonableness and what their obligations are after using force.
Course goals
- Understand the difference between civil and criminal liability
- Understand the obligation to take police action under Illinois law, particularly the Domestic Violence Act and the Tort Immunity Act
- Understand the methods prosecutors use to evaluate a use of force
- Understand the higher use of force standards required by Illinois law
- Use less lethal force options responsibly and in compliance with Illinois law
- Understand how pre-event and post-event conduct is considered when a use of force is evaluated
ILETSB training mandates
The course satisfies the following ILETSB training mandates:
- Civil rights
- Constitutional and proper use of law enforcement authority
- Law concerning stops, searches, and use of force
- De-escalation techniques (0.5 hours)
Arrange in-house training for your agency
Contact us to host this course at your agency. If your department would like a custom course, we can work with you to develop one.