By C1 Staff
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — An investigation conducted by an independent group concluded that the Nevada prison system needs more staff, improved training and better equipment.
Las Vegas Now reports that the investigation and subsequent report published Tuesday were conducted by the Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA).
The report found that the Nevada state prison system has the lowest staffing in the nation; use of force policies need to be clarified; and, perhaps the most controversial, officers shouldn’t have to use shotguns to control inmates.
“We do not agree with that,” Department of Corrections Interim Director E. K. McDaniel said. “We do agree that there are some things that we can do to help us make that process more efficient and better and safer.”
McDaniel said the department has made changes to cut down on deaths, including having officers issuing multiple verbal warnings and fire rubber bullets before turning to non-lethal birdshot.
Officials say that 100 new employees will be added by 2016, with half of them starting this month.
The report did note that the DOC has already reduced its use of force; during the first six months of 2015, shotguns were used 14 times inside facilities, compared with 27 times during the first six months of 2014.