In what situation is it justified to strike with a baton to the head?

Striking with a baton to the head is considered a use of deadly force and is only justified when facing a threat that poses an imminent risk of serious bodily harm or death. In the context of law enforcement and military training, the use of a baton is typically governed by the principle of proportional response. When a situation escalates to a point where an individual’s life is in imminent danger, and the use of a baton is necessary to neutralize that threat to save oneself or others, it becomes justifiable to aim for a critical area, such as the head, to incapacitate the aggressor effectively.

This principle underscores the importance of evaluating the severity of the threat and the appropriate response to it. In contrast, using a baton in non-life-threatening situations, such as training exercises, managing civil disorder like a rioting crowd, or other scenarios where lethal force isn't warranted, would not typically justify head strikes, as those actions would not align with the need for reasonable and necessary force.