By Emerald Morrow
WLNS
LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Corrections says the use of stun guns in prisons across the state has helped reduce the number of injuries corrections officers receive from aggressive inmates, and has helped increase prison safety as a whole.
All prisons in Michigan equipped corrections officers with Tasers starting in July of 2012. This came after placing Tasers in five prisons statewide for a trial run.
"[Since introducing Tasers into prisons], what we’ve seen is a reduction in prisoner violence, a reduction in prisoner-staff assaults, and a more controlled prison population,” says John Cordell of the Michigan Department of Corrections.
This year, corrections officers have pulled out stun guns more than 1,400 times, but have only had to use them on about 500 occasions. Officials say the other 900 times, the threat of using a stun gun was enough to deter inmates from further aggressive action.
"[Corrections officers] like having Tasers in there, because it controls the prisoners and that makes them safer,” says Cordell.
Full story: Stun Guns Credited For Increasing Prison Safety