Intentionally striking an inmate on the head with an impact weapon such as a baton is considered _______.

• A. Deadly Force
• B. Nonlethal Force
• C. Weaponless Control
• D. Verbal Persuasion

Answer: (A)

Intentionally striking an inmate on the head with an impact weapon is deadly force. The defining idea is force that is likely to cause death or serious bodily harm. A blow to the head with a baton carries a high risk of fatal injury or severe damage, so it would be classified as deadly force rather than nonlethal force, weaponless control, or verbal persuasion. Nonlethal force is used when the objective can be achieved without risking serious injury, weaponless control involves using empty-handed techniques, and verbal persuasion relies on communication without physical force. The head strike-with-weapon scenario carries the potential for lethal outcomes, which is why it is categorized as deadly force.