In which case did the court rule that failure to adequately train officers on constitutional use of force can lead to deliberate indifference liability?

• A. Davis v. Mason County, WA
• B. City of Canton v. Harris
• C. Ciminillo v. Streicher
• D. Graham v. Connor

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is how a municipality can be held liable for failing to train police officers in using force in a way that respects constitutional rights. City of Canton v. Harris is the case that established this principle: a municipal failure to provide adequate training can form the basis for deliberate indifference liability under §1983 if that failure amounts to a policy or custom that shows the city’s lack of concern for officers’ constitutional duties. The court explained that liability hinges on a policy of inaction—the city knew or should have known that its training was insufficient and that the inadequacy would likely result in constitutional violations. However, in Canton itself there wasn’t enough evidence of such a policy, so liability wasn’t found.

This is why the decision is the best answer here. Graham v. Connor, by contrast, sets the standard for judging use-of-force incidents as objectively reasonable, not for municipal training liability. The other cases deal with related topics in use-of-force law but don’t establish the training-deliberate indifference framework that Canton does.