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.
Robert Kessler, a former CO who took a plea deal, described in court how officers repeatedly hit and pepper-sprayed Robert Brooks before he died at a Utica hospital
Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake met dozens of court-ordered reforms years after allegations of excessive force and abuse
Proactive thinking and clear justification are key to managing force incidents and protecting both staff and inmates
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
Jamal Sutherland died in January after deputies repeatedly used stun guns and kneeled on his back to restrain him
“I feel that I handled it the exact way that I was taught to handle situations like this,” the officer said; city officials disagreed
The unanimous vote gives the county 60 days to either remediate the violations or remove young people
Thirteen staff were suspended in connection with Tyrone Briggs’ 2019 death
“It doesn’t matter how nice the facility is if the people who run the facility don’t know how to properly operate it,” said Derick Allison
The jury found that the sheriff used unreasonable force to punish pretrial detainees on two separate occasions
These laws will cause every law enforcement and corrections agency and all its officers to reconsider the way they go about their jobs
Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said she could not prove that deputies intended to kill Jamal Sutherland
The case raised the question of whether the officers could be sued and held liable for using force
Protective gear can help to reduce injury, increase officer confidence and lead to lower levels of force used
The use of force was deemed appropriate by FDC, but UOF experts and former prison officials disagree
Both COs had been fired for the assaults that took place last summer
Medical examiners had ruled Jaquaree Simmons’ death a homicide from injuries to his head
Why mixing observation skills with a mindful response leads to more accurate reports
Clips released last week show the deputies repeatedly using stun guns and kneeling on the back of a mentally ill inmate
Too many “fellow officers take on mental health responsibilities that they are not equipped to handle,” said Sheriff Kristin Graziano
Board member Patricia Hayes said she was “overall concerned” about the operations of the jail following the incident
Record everything you can within legal and regulatory guidelines
Schenectady County Court charged Eugene Sellie with two counts each of felony assault and official misconduct
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