Use of Force
The Use of Force section examines the protocols, training, and legal considerations surrounding the application of force in correctional facilities. This directory offers articles and resources on when and how force is justified, de-escalation techniques, and the impact of force on both staff and inmates. Understanding the use of force is essential for maintaining safety while ensuring that actions comply with legal and ethical standards. For related training, explore our section on Defensive Tactics.
Nathan Palmer admitted to lying on a use-of-force form in an attempt to cover up Messiah Nantwi’s death, prosecutors said
Joshua Bartlett admitted to filing a false report after an inmate died following a use-of-force incident involving fellow COs at Mid-State prison
Messiah Nantwi resisted being handcuffed and grabbed a CO’s vest during an emergency response call, leading several COs to strike the inmate, the indictment says
The duty to intervene in an excessive force situation is your legal and moral responsibility
Nicholas Kieffer pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and other charges in the death of inmate Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility
The conviction of the former Southern Regional Jail lieutenant is part of a broader federal investigation that has led to guilty pleas from six other COs
A Lorain County corrections officer is accused of hitting an inmate’s head into a wall; he has been placed on administrative leave
The attorney general usually probes in-custody deaths, but Letitia James said four COs under investigation in the death of Robert Brooks have lawyers from her office
Five senior COs and one sergeant are accused of filing false reports regarding an incident that took place in April 2020 at the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility
From body cameras to healthcare access, the new year will bring key policy shifts to improve corrections operations
The Marlboro County sheriff and a deputy were indicted in an incident involving the use of a TASER on an unruly prisoner in their custody
The incident occurred when the officer tried to force the allegedly intoxicated arrestee to stand still for an X-Ray photo; the officer has been sentenced to 4 years in prison
The sheriff said all Broome County Correctional Facility staff will undergo formal training on use of force, de-escalation and duty to intervene
Investigators said the April incident began with a routine cell shakedown, where Tarrant County Jail employees located a shank and razor in the inmate’s cell
Four of the COs pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and a fifth pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of a Jefferson City Correctional Center inmate
Lt. Joel Garcia was fired, then reinstated and placed on administrative leave in connection to a Tarrant County Jail inmate’s death
The Georgia DOC said the inmate’s death was a “result of an altercation” and that the CO was immediately fired
The investigation will examine whether Kentucky protects the facilities’ juveniles from excessive force, prolonged isolation, violence and sexual abuse, the DOJ said
Prison officials were called to a “disturbance” in a housing unit at New Folsom when the inmate “charged and began to hit staff;" COs then began to restrain the inmate
The former Dade Correctional CO was found guilty of second-degree murder
The former Staton Correctional Facility sergeant was convicted by a jury of deprivation of rights under color of law, falsification of records and obstruction of justice
Eric Nantell, former correctional supervisor at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex, was convicted of depriving the inmate’s civil rights, tampering with a witness victim or informant and making false statements
Sebron Hollands pleaded guilty to providing false information in a report after his co-worker was accused of punching an inmate at the Northwest Correctional Complex
Correctional officers in select locations will wear cameras during shifts to test and perfect their use before a complete agency rollout slated for the end of 2024
The CO was a former 20-year law enforcement veteran who was a lieutenant and shift commander at William Donaldson Correctional Facility
You don’t get to “win” the fight. You stop when the violence or active resistance has stopped
“Stabbings and slashing will exceed 300 this year with 6,000 uses of force — much high than other jail systems,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Powell said
If you think there is any chance you’ll need backup, don’t be a hero
