Which of the following is a characteristic of nonlethal weapons?

Nonlethal weapons are specifically engineered to incapacitate individuals with minimal risk of causing death or permanent injury. This characteristic highlights their role in scenarios where the use of lethal force would be inappropriate or excessive. The intent behind these weapons is to control, deter, or incapacitate a subject, allowing for law enforcement or military operations to be conducted with reduced risk to both the operator and the target.

In contrast, options discussing the potential for permanent damage or comparing effectiveness to lethal weapons do not accurately capture the essence of nonlethal weapons. Nonlethal weapons aim to provide crowd control or manage threats without the intention of causing permanent harm. Additionally, suggesting that they can only be used in high-risk scenarios does not align with their broader applications, which can include law enforcement situations requiring less lethal force.