NCJ Number
149898
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1994) Pages: 108,110,112,114
Date Published
1994
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article provides an overview of current research on use-of-force incidents in prisons.
Abstract
The authors examined systemwide data that represent use- of-force incidents throughout Florida prisons. Data obtained from interviews with more than 400 correctional officers and inmates, as well as 424 incident reports filed in 27 prisons in every region of the State showed that most of these incidents occurred in response to fights between inmates or inmate disobedience. The types of force most commonly employed were hands-on and equipment, which included handcuffs, black- boxes, and chains. While 44 percent of inmates complied with correctional officers once force was applied, 42 percent resisted the use of force. The highest rate of incidents occurred in housing/cell areas. A survey that estimated the extent and nature of use-of-force incidents nationwide found patterns similar to those identified in the Florida study. The survey also identified the factors most frequently associated with officer use of force: inmate resistance to housing removal, inmate resistance to orders, and disputes among inmates. Officer respondents indicated that additional training, improved corrections technology, more use-of-force technology, additional staff, and interpersonal communications training could improve staff handling of situations that require force. 11 references