lawful force

[ˈlɔːfəl fɔːrs]
nounpl: lawful forces
força lícita
1. The use of physical power or coercion by law enforcement or authorized personnel that is permitted by law and complies with legal standards and constitutional protections
The police officer used lawful force to apprehend the suspect who was resisting arrest.
O policial usou força lícita para prender o suspeito que resistia à prisão.
2. Force exercised within the limits prescribed by law, including reasonable and necessary measures for law enforcement, self-defense, or maintaining order
The security guard was trained to apply lawful force only when necessary to protect the premises.
O guarda de segurança foi treinado para aplicar força lícita apenas quando necessário para proteger o local.
In both Brazilian and American legal systems, 'lawful force' is a critical concept in law enforcement and criminal justice. Brazilian police training emphasizes adherence to constitutional limits on force, while American law enforcement operates under 'reasonable force' standards established by case law. Both systems require officers to document and justify any use of force, reflecting international human rights standards.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
legal forcejustified forcelegitimate forceauthorized force
Antonyms / Antônimos
unlawful forceexcessive forceillegal forceunjustified force

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
força lícita
Standard legal terminology used in Brazilian law enforcement and criminal justice contexts
São Paulo
força legal
Alternative term sometimes used in formal legal documents
Portugal
força legítima
Portuguese legal system often uses 'legítima' to emphasize legitimacy
USA
lawful force / justified force
Core concept in American criminal law and police training protocols

Related Words

use of forcereasonable forceforce continuumself-defenselaw enforcementexcessive force

Related Idioms & Phrases

use of lawful force
application of lawful force
within the bounds of lawful force
resort to lawful force
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