Just over two weeks ago, Corrections1 asked you to review a LETN Cell Extraction Video that was filmed almost ten years ago. Rather than focus on the physical tactics used, we asked you to comment on how to improve the verbal tactics that should accompany these cell extractions. Gary Klugiewicz, CorrectionsOne’s expert columnist, examined how to improve the negotiation tactics that should precede a cell extraction. He used members’ comments and suggestions along with his and other correctional professional’s knowledge in examining how to diffuse these potentially dangerous confrontations. |
Point One:
Any evaluation of the use-of-force begins with a review of how the incident began. This is especially true when a cell entry team has to be deployed. View the video below.
Why did this incident begin? From the video, it seems that the inmate was refusing to take his “court ordered” medication.
C1 member JStanley commented on this video, and probably says it best: “Based on the scenario you presented the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department would not conduct a cell extraction. The inmate depicted was off his psych meds and acting out. He committed no overt act nor, based on what was shown in the video, was he about to. We would monitor this situation but not enter. If he made some overt act to harm himself, this would bump it up to a level requiring intervention. We deal with inmates like this constantly. Why use force in this situation?”
Why is a cell entry team being called to a cell door for a forced cell extraction of an inmate who is simply refusing to take his medication? Has the nurse been contacted? Has the inmate been seen by the psychiatric social worker? Was the psychiatrist who ordered the medication contacted? Was the judge notified that force may be needed to comply with this order? These medical, professional, and legal professionals should be consulted before using force to administer medication.
These same professional will likely second guess your decision to use force to administer “their” medication. Get them involved in the negotiations and decision-making that lead up to a cell entry. This will most likely result in force not being needed and, if force is used, they can be held accountable for the group’s decision-making.
Point Two:
How and where did the conversation between the inmate and the initial officer and later with the sergeant take place? Yes, over an intercom. This long distance, sterile, poor-quality communication is probably one of the worst ways to conduct negotiations with an inmate.
The initial officer could have gotten a backup officer to operate the control panel and walked into the sub pod and talked to the inmate at the cell door. This would have been more personal, effective, and showed respect to the inmate’s wants and needs while allowing the officer to work his magic in attempting to get the inmate to go along with the program.
C1 member Jcharvat said: “Is it just me or does this video seems a little over dramatic? First off, I would never decide if a forced cell move needed to be done by saying a few words over an intercom. You need to be at the cell door if at all possible.”
Point Three:
Begin on the right foot by using the right words, the right tone of voice, and the right facial expressions. Dr. George Thompson, founder of the Verbal Judo Institute, talks about your communication skills as a “performing art.”
Begin with an appropriate greeting, introduce yourself and role (if the inmate doesn’t know you and your job assignment), explain why you are there, and find out the inmate’s side of the story first. No one ever asked the inmate why he was refusing to take his medication — this is all part of the negotiation process.
C1 member verheydl explains that “Having staff that understands the negotiation process is a big plus. My goal everyday is that my staff leaves work in the same condition they came to work in. That’s not saying we don’t ever forcibly extract inmates, we do, but when handled properly they come out the majority of the time. Being firm, fair, and consistent without RESPECT is BS. RESPECT is 360 degrees, line staff, professional visitors, public, supervisor and the inmates too.”
Point Four:
Most inmates are “difficult persons” who will never do what you want them to do the first time you ask them to do something. Remember the Verbal Judo Five Step Patterns that tells officer that the best success comes when you “ask,” “tell them why,” “give them positive then, if necessary, negative options,” and “confirm non-compliance” before “taking action.”
Sometimes it helps to form a tag-team and let someone else deal with the inmate. This could be another officer or other support team member.
Point Five:
Sometimes your initial negotiation with the inmate works but sometimes it doesn’t. At some point, your supervisor will need to be contacted. Once they arrive on the scene, the same rules apply. Negotiations should take place at the cell door — not over an intercom. Often the situation can be resolved at this level. If not, a decision needs to be made to activate a cell entry team.
Depending on the size of your facility, this authority may rest with the first line supervisor or may require authorization from a command staff member. Command staff members who authorize these cell entries own them: They authorized the use of force, so make sure that all the bases are covered. Take the time to do it right.
Point Six:
The time after the cell entry team has been mobilized but not yet arrived on the scene is one of the most valuable negotiation times, and it is often not utilized. The on scene supervisor should use this time to explain the surrender ritual to the inmate, build rapport with the inmate, and help to ensure that by the time the cell entry team arrives on the scene the inmate is ready to surrender or at least not fight as hard.
Jerry Elliott, a retired Captain from the Wisconsin Department of Correction, has over twenty years of experience working segregation units in maximum security prisons. Captain Elliott explains how to use this valuable negotiation time:
“The supervisor waiting for the cell entry team should explain how the inmate can surrender once the team arrives. This may include use of special restraints and tether systems, kneeling at the cell door, lying down on the bed, or other recognized procedures. No matter how your facility does it, the scene supervisor should explain it to the inmate to avoid misunderstanding and to get the inmate thinking about surrendering.”
Captain Elliott shared one of the tactics he used to build rapport with the inmate by showing concern for the inmate’s property. He suggestS moving a TV or radio behind the toilet so it would not get broken. The Captain also suggested that the inmate pass out his legal papers so that they would not get destroyed once chemical agents were applied to the cell.
The inference was that the Captain was trying to help keep the inmate’s property safe – even though the Captain couldn’t keep the inmate safe once the team enters the cell. Again, this gets the inmate thinking about what is going to happen – and about surrendering without a fight.
Finally, the Captain would share with the inmate the fact that he understood why the inmates couldn’t give up because the inmate had to appear tough to the other inmates. He would tell the inmate that once the cell door was cracked that the team was coming in and the he couldn’t stop them – but, what the inmate needed to understand was that the safest place for the inmate was on the bunk with his/her hands behind the back.
Guess how many inmates ended up face down on their bunks with their hands behind their backs once the cell door was cracked and the cell entry team entered the cell? Yes, many of them. Use the time you are waiting for the cell entry team to arrive to wear down and often prepare the inmate to give up or at least fight less.
Point Seven:
Supervisors should use the arrival of the team to their advantage. Mention that you hear them coming and that the inmate’s decision-making time is coming to an end. Once the team arrives, let them line up so the inmate can be properly impressed by them.
A fully-dressed cell entry team in their helmets, riot suits, and equipment paint a very intimidating picture. This gives the inmate one more chance to surrender. There needs to be a tactical pause here for the inmate to be able to see and comprehend the big picture. If necessary, the final negotiations take place at this time and the decision to deploy weapons or enter the cell is made.
Point Eight:
Several members made comments on the wide range of weapons now available for use during a cell entry including new chemical agents, PepperBall guns, impact munitions, and TASERs and other electronic control devices. These options will be examined in future Corrections1 columns.
In addition, reference was made to the need to allow time to let the OC Spray or other chemical agents work its magic before entering the cell and how to provide after-care after the use of aerosol sprays. C1 columnist Dave Young has offered tips on how to deploy chemical aerosol agents and this issue will be examined in future Corrections1 columns.
Conclusion:
Corrections1 hopes that you have found this discussion helpful. We thank the members who commented on this video. Please feel free to comment on this column or any other Corrections1 article.
