Which term is a system of controlled defensive and offensive body movements that criminal justice officers use to respond to a subject's aggression or resistance?

• A. Deadly Force Resistance
• B. Descalation
• C. Defensive Tactics
• D. Direct Threat Care/Hot Zone

Answer: (C)

Defensive tactics is a system of controlled defensive and offensive body movements officers use to respond to a subject's aggression or resistance. It focuses on trained techniques that combine balance, leverage, and positioning to gain control while prioritizing safety for all involved. The approach includes defensive actions designed to create space, disengage, or escape grips, and offensive actions used only as necessary to restrain or protect, all within established policy and the use-of-force continuum. Emphasis is placed on technique, control, and the chance to de-escalate when possible, so the goal is to manage risk and reduce harm rather than rely on brute force. Other options describe different concepts: de-escalation emphasizes communication to reduce aggression, while terms like deadly force resistance or medical/hot-zone phrases don’t represent the trained system of physical control that defensive tactics provide.