As a corrections supervisor and trainer, I’ve witnessed a concerning trend: officers becoming increasingly hesitant to maintain proper hands-on control of inmates. During my recent training visits to jails and prisons around the country, I have noticed a difference in how staff are handling inmate escorts and searches. While everyone straightens up when supervisors or guests arrive, the telltale signs of poor habits are hard to hide.
Poor escort habits have become so prevalent that I recently saw a well-made recruitment video on social media that perfectly illustrated this ongoing problem. The video showed two officers allowing a restrained inmate to walk ahead of them down a hallway — a dangerous practice that reveals a deeper issue in our profession. Officers are avoiding putting “hands-on” inmates. The growing discomfort with appropriate physical control isn’t just a training issue; it’s a safety crisis waiting to happen.
The COVID effect
The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed corrections operations, with many facilities minimizing physical contact. Gloves, masks and hand sanitizer made everyone very aware of human contact. People were reluctant to even stand next to each other in the grocery store, so it was no wonder that social distancing followed us into our jails and prisons. Cell searches, pat searches and even hands-on escorts were minimized or cut out altogether.
While understandable during the height of COVID-19, this shift has created lasting implications for our profession. Officers who entered corrections during this period often lack the confidence to use hands-on control techniques, and even experienced staff have developed hesitant habits.
Hands-on best practices
When escorting segregation inmates to showers, recreation, or during cell searches, proper hands-on control isn’t optional — it’s essential. Physical contact serves multiple critical functions:
- Provides immediate tactical feedback about an inmate’s intentions to resist or assault
- Prevents accidental falls and injuries
- Establishes clear control of movement and direction
- Reinforces the officer’s authority in managing the unit
The stakes are high when an officer allows inmates to walk unescorted inside a segregation unit. It allows the inmate freedom to pass contraband and feel emboldened to assault other inmates. Every step of distance between officer and inmate also increases reaction time — a luxury we can’t afford when things turn violent.
The OODA loop reality
Law enforcement professionals are familiar with the OODA loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act), but many forget how hands-on control compresses this sequence. Without physical contact, you must:
- Observe an unusual movement by the inmate
- Orient yourself to the potential threat
- Decide on distance and response
- Take action in response to another’s actions
With proper hands-on technique, you feel the threat developing — the flexing of muscles, or the beginning of a pull away from your control. This information allows you to respond instantly to a possible threat. This split-second advantage can mean the difference between controlling a situation or becoming a victim of it. Sometimes, just adjusting your grip can dissuade an inmate’s action — they know you are prepared.
Hospital escorts: When stakes are highest
Hospital environments present unique challenges that require a specialized approach.
Armed escorts must be carefully coordinated between armed and unarmed officers to ensure both safety and clarity of roles. When dealing with high-security inmates, unwavering attention to control techniques is essential. In situations where a single-officer armed escort is unavoidable, officers should use their support hand to maintain physical control of the inmate.
If available, using a wheelchair can offer a tactical advantage, as it provides a few extra moments to react if the inmate attempts to move from a seated position. Above all, remember that it only takes one lapse in procedure to trigger a critical incident.
Build a culture of contact
Emphasize hands-on control during initial training and continue to monitor and enforce this standard every day. When you see a staff member doing an improper escort, address it immediately — the same as you would when you find an open door. Poor escorting is a security and safety issue.
If staff are hesitant or uncomfortable with hands-on escorting, lead through the example of supervisors and senior staff. Remember — you set the example every day. The only question is, are you setting a good example or a poor one?
The consequences of avoiding hands-on control aren’t theoretical — they’re written in incident reports and injury statistics in every jail and prison in the United States. Every time an officer maintains proper physical control during an escort, they’re not just following policy; they’re protecting themselves, their colleagues, and yes, even the inmates in their care. As corrections professionals, we must overcome our hesitation and embrace proven hands-on techniques. The alternative isn’t just poor practice — it’s an invitation to disaster. Let’s get back to basics and get hands-on.
Training plan: Rebuilding physical control
Small lapses in physical control can lead to big consequences. As we shift away from post-pandemic habits and return to foundational correctional practices, it’s time to check in on how we’re managing inmate escorts and searches. Use the following questions to guide a discussion during your next training:
- When was the last time you physically maintained control of an inmate during an escort? How confident did you feel?
- Have you ever let an inmate walk ahead of you? Why? What was the risk?
- How has your approach to physical control changed since the pandemic?
- Are you more hesitant now to make physical contact with inmates? If so, what’s driving that?
- What would you do if a restrained inmate suddenly pulled away while walking in front of you during an escort?
- You’re the only officer available for a hospital escort — how do you maintain control without escalating risk?
- An officer on your shift consistently avoids physical contact during escorts. What’s your responsibility as a teammate or supervisor?
- What bad habits are most common in how we perform escorts and searches?
- How does proper hands-on control help prevent use of force incidents?
- What message do we send inmates when we allow them to lead during escorts?
