NCJ Number
137422
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 54 Issue: 4 Dated: (June 1992) Pages: 26,28,30
Date Published
1992
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Jail and prison administrators must be responsible for developing formal systems designed to prevent incidents of excessive and unnecessary force. Administrative concerns, training, and remediation can serve as starting points for facilities that wish to establish preventive and remediation programs or to enhance existing programs.
Abstract
In terms of administrative concerns, corrections officials should establish a clear policy, maintain a rigorous screening process including interviews and psychological testing, develop a monitoring system, and establish employee assistance programs. Once a facility policy has been established, all personnel should receive policy guidelines and training covering crucial definitions, the written policy, and relevant statutory and case law. In- service and academy training must focus on performance under stress and include training in firearms, defensive tactics, and restraint techniques. Police psychological services should offer courses in stress management, anger management, and verbal skills development. When an officer's use of force is deemed inappropriate, the facility may supplement formal disciplinary measures with several remediation options including retraining, psychological counseling, and fitness for duty evaluation.