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.
Matthew Millar was found not guilty of second-degree murder in the 2022 death of Jason Rothe at the Secure Psychiatric Unit in Concord
Federal charges allege Walker County Jail officers deprived Tony Mitchell and others of basic rights and used an inmate enforcer to assault detainees
Nathan Palmer admitted to lying on a use-of-force form in an attempt to cover up Messiah Nantwi’s death, prosecutors said
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
Take advantage of the moments before an inmate loses control when you have the opportunity to divert that rage
The decision to dismiss charges against Jarrett Hobbs came several months after an investigation following the video’s release last year
The investigation was opened after deaths in county jails hit a two-decade high last year and other allegations of excessive use of force surfaced
Sheriff said decision to terminate the CO was part of his vow to make “accountability and transparency a top priority”
Arrestee claims it was improper to use a K-9 to assist in a cell extraction because as a patrol dog, it was not trained or certified in forced cell extraction
Sergeant found not liable after breaking inmate’s arm with a baton to end a violent struggle with officers
A separate jury convicted former CO Alex Banta, 30, of similar charges in April
Lawsuit by family members of man who died in custody alleges guards at Monroe’s Richwood Correctional Center beat and pepper-sprayed handcuffed prisoners in area without security cameras
The 25 state correctional officers were accused in 2019 of using excessive force against inmates and functioning as a criminal enterprise in jails around the city
Court ruled a jury could find that punching the inmate in the face and applying pressure to her neck, back and legs after her resistance was controlled was excessive
The incident drew national attention when Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced that the reporter who wrote the story was under criminal investigation
The temporary approval of such tactics is a sign of increasingly desperate conditions inside Louisiana’s aging and understaffed juvenile jails
Alex Banta now faces up to life in prison for actions the jury said led to the death of inmate Larry Earvin
“It is time for the jail culture to stop supporting behaviors that are forbidden by policy,” the monitors wrote
A jury said the sheriff’s office violated the inmate’s rights under federal disability laws by failing to properly train staff
Larry Earvin, whose death was ruled a homicide, died five weeks after the 2018 incident
The coroner’s office said the inmate suffered apparent blunt force trauma, but it was unclear whether that caused his death
Cpl. Jamason Jessie also failed to intervene during the November incident, the sheriff’s office said
The Eighth Amendment controls use of force outside prison walls
The watchdog report came on the same day another report revealed the city spends more than $550K per inmate each year
Robert Garcia, a 12-year law enforcement veteran, said he acted to protect another officer
Nearly 2,000 cases need to be resolved, some of which have been pending for more than three years
The Supreme Court’s Kingsley decision resolved a federal circuit split regarding an “objective reasonableness” standard vs. a “subjective intent” standard
The Supreme Court has ruled that legality of force directed at convicted prisoners by prison officials must include not only an analysis of the nature and degree of the force used, but also a review of the rationale and purpose for the use of force
“He has always stated the only reason he used force was to get the young man under control,’’ said an attorney for one of the COs