Texas Use of Force
The purpose of the paper is to show how the criminal justice system is trying to reduce officer and offender assaults in Texas Corrections facilities. In the Texas Corrections facilities, also known as Texas Department of Criminal Justice, defines the “Use of Force” as a physically controlling measure taken during a confrontational situation to make an offender do something involuntary. This may include physical contact by an officer with an offender in order to control movements, a situation when an offender physically resists the application of restraints, chemical agents are discharged, batons or other instruments make contact with an offender in an effort to restore or preserve order, and even when offensive or
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The use of less lethal weapons that are approved by TDCJ are by using restraints, protective equipment, chemical agents, and less than lethal ammunition. The restraints are defined as a measure or condition that keeps someone or something under control or within limits. Restraints in corrections system are used to escort offenders from place to place and controlling the offenders. The restraints that are approved by TDCJ are hand and leg restraint cuffs and a belt restraint. The officer puts on the hand and leg restraint cuffs which are a pair of lockable linked metal rings hooked together with a chain that is approximately four inches long for hands and twelve inches long for legs. Then belt restraint are used as a strong wrap around the offenders waist that has chains that connect the hand and leg restraint cuffs to the belt restraint. These restraints together keep the offender from having full mobility. Which according to most studies, it has helped prevent attacks on officers (Smith,R.2009). The use of protective equipment such as riot helmets, riot shields, riot batons, and stab vest. These protective equipment are mainly used when an offender or offenders are causing a violent public disturbance, or riot; it was to calm the violent offenders, yet protect the officers from being injured or killed. By having the riot helmets, shields, and batons helps
Like other law enforcement agencies throughout the United States, New Jersey has a policy that addresses police use of force. The New Jersey Attorney General’s Use of Force Policy was first put into operation in April 1985. The purpose of the policy is to serve as a guide for police officers who are confronted with use of force situations during their duty to preserve the law and protect others. This essay will provide a summary of the policies and practices of New Jersey’s Use of Force Policy. An evaluation of these components will be presented with emphasis on the legal sufficiency of the policies and procedures. Policy strengths and weaknesses will be identified in addition to suggestions for improvement. This essay will conclude
Clear narrative accounts from observers provide detailed descriptions of altercations that give a step by step account of how a situation played out and what factors sparked the use of force. The force continuum’s worth as an analytical tool is also firmly established. Where, the continuum has generally been a mechanism to guide officer decision making, from the study it’s use as a means to assess force appropriateness becomes quite apparent. Terrill is able to uncover that officers actually perform quite well when dealing with resistant suspects but fail to show as much restraint when dealing with non-resistant
A mechanical restraint is a device used to inhibit free physical movement which includes limb restraints, mitts, wristlets, anklets, jackets and wheelchair restraints (Powell et al., 1989). Restraints refers to any device attached to or adjacent to a person’s body that cannot be controlled or simply removed by the person and intentionally restricts a person’s freedom. Restraints are most commonly used to ensure the safety
United States National Institute of Justice issued the article 'Understanding the use of force by and against the police' in November 1996 at its journal, 'Research in Brief'. Written by Garner, Buchanan, Schade and Hepburn, the article reported the result of a two week research on the officers of the Phoenix Police Department and the use of force involved during the period of time, both from the police officers or from the suspects. The study defined the use of force into five different areas, including voice, motion, restraints, weaponless tactics and weapon. Each first respond officer would fill out a use-of-force survey after their arrest report, in which they would address the action that being conducted by other officers as well.
Police violence: understanding and controlling police abuse of force. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1996. Print. Michel, Lou. " Focus in brutality case is on 3 of the 6 officers, as others are expected to be cleared soon - The Buffalo News."
Policing is a dangerous profession. As police officers, we have been entrusted the great responsibility to protect life and property and arrest criminal offenders. “The apprehension of criminal offenders and protection of property must at all times be subservient to the protection of life.” It is our policy to value and preserve human life, to include our own. Efficient and effective use of force can reduce injuries to both suspects and officers. The ultimate goal when applying use of force, is to make an arrest and bring a potentially unsafe situation to a smooth and peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. Many officers preferred that the subject allow himself to be arrested peacefully, but when that is not the case, officers must make
Despite all of the advancements in modern policing, there are still flaws in the system. Many of these problems are found in civil rights, corruption, police-community relations, and police brutality. Even though all of these items are closely related, police brutality is currently the biggest issue throughout the United States. By describing police brutality and giving examples, one will be able to understand why it is such a problem in law enforcement today. We will also discuss ways in which police brutality is being corrected and prevented in police departments through internal and external control mechanisms, legislative control, and court control.
The use of excessive force remains a concrete term and is hard to adequately measure. Operationalizing aggression as a construct is the best way for my study to measure excessive force, as it will give the ability to answer my research questions in a more focused way. Both historically and currently, the term “use of excessive force” has been reserved for those serving within the law enforcement occupation. Acceptable and not acceptable use of force for law enforcement was debated within the case of Graham v. Connor (Nowiki, 2002).
The main purpose of Corrections is to incapacitate, and rehabilitate an inmate with the hope they will become law abiding citizens once released back into society. However, while in the correctional institution serving their time, many inmates dealing with pressure from being away from their families or pressures from their peers if they are in a gang, to assault staff members that work at these institutions. These assaults have made it very dangerous for Correctional Officers to perform his or her job duties. This reform will look to take advance measures to protect our correctional staff employees as they try to protect society from these violent/non-violent criminals. This paper will help one to better understand the
Issues surrounding the utility and costs of the use of force by correctional officers remain largely unresolved. (Carlson & Garrett, 2008) Corrections institutions are extremely tough organizations in which all activities are carried out in an environment of uncertainty. (Carlson & Garrett, 2008) In both jails and prisons, where staffs are usually unarmed and always outnumbered by the population of resistant prisoners, the ability of staff to control the prisoners is a matter of major importance. (Carlson & Garrett, 2008)But the policy that gives correctional officers license to use force only when no reasonable effective alternative appear to exist. (Boston, 2006) The level of force and the type of weapon best suited to a particular incident
Police Brutality, an ongoing abuse of power that exists in the United States should be resolved immediately. The functioning element within law enforcement should consist of organized, just, and civilized officers. The presence of police brutality is becoming more of an issue as society grows. The problem posed by the illegal exercise of police power is an ongoing reality for individuals of a disfavored race, class, or sexual orientation. Police brutality must be stopped so that police do not forget who they are serving – not themselves, but the taxpayers. This means that even the criminals, who are a part of the public, have certain rights, civil rights. Although racism has been eradicated within the United States, systematic discrimination within the Police force causes a major concern in today’s society.
The use of excessive force by police officers is a topic that continues to make headlines and a study that needs to be done. Although much research has gone into this topic there still is no consensus on why the use of excessive force occurs. Some studies suggest lack of training and/or problems with organization policy/procedures. Law enforcement officers are authorized to use force when necessary, but when the level of force is excessive, however, the actions of the police come under scrutiny. The resulting effects can include; public outrage, scandal, negative reputation for not only the officer but the law enforcement community, and criminal considerations. Although there’s is no concrete definition of excessive force, police
The Police Officers use of the excessive force is always kept in check by many jurisdictions through the force continuum that allows use of force to a certain extent. The force continuum sets relevant levels of force that are considered appropriate in the direct response of a subject’s behavior. This power is only granted by the civil government, and has the limits that have been set out under the statutory law as well as common law. (Stetser, 2001)
The use of force by law enforcement officers is only neccesåry in situations such as self-defense or in defense of another individual (Hickman, 2016). The use of force has been defined in many different ways by several different people, which could make it difficult to put into a solid definition (Hickman, 2016). According to a majority of police chiefs law enforcement officers should use only the amount of force necessary to handle an incident, make an arrest, or protect themselves or others from harm (Hickman, 2016). Recently, police agencies have also began to use body cameras in order to minimize police brutality and more clearly define the cause, process, and outcome of a situation. Aside from the already low amount of cases of police
Justice officials who seek to hold police officers accountable for unlawful practices face threats of violence. Detention centers in various states are severely overcrowded, lengthy pre-trial detention is common, and torture continues to be a serious problem. Forced labour persists in some states despite federal efforts to eradicate it (Watch, 2013).