Essay On Use Of Force In Correctional Institutions

In an attempt to acknowledge some of the shortcomings associated with the use of force policies and procedures in correctional institutions, this paper will outline several key factors surrounding the topic. First and for most, a discussion of what constitutes use of force in correctional institutions will be evaluated by examining policies of the State of North Carolina Department of Correction Division of Prisons. Subsequent to current policy, an analysis of the different levels associated with using force in a correctional setting will be conducted. Further, an evaluation and examples of excessive force used in a correctional setting will be given. Finally, an assessment of the techniques and technologies implemented to reduce situations
However, use of force within correctional institutions, while still governed by law and policy, has little associated research (Griffin, 2001). Also, the use of force found in the correctional setting is viewed differently than that of law enforcement, primarily because of the availability of backup officers and a sense of heightened security that exists within correctional institutions (Griffin, 2001). Consequently, many of the incidents involving the use of force in correctional institutions are justified as necessary because such actions directly relate to officer or inmate safety, institutional security, and overall tranquility of the facility (Griffin, 2001). Therefore, situations arise where the use of force is evident; however, an investigation into the justification of such force is not always conducted (Rembert and Henderson, 2014). While this directly correlates to the level of force used and the consequences of these actions, for example, injuries to inmates or staff, exhaustive investigations are only prevalent when serious injury or death occurs (Rembert and Henderson, 2014). Simply, acquiring data from correctional facilities regarding officers using force on inmates is difficult, if possible to obtain (Griffin,
Further, North Carolina expounds on policy regarding use of force by stating “the use of force shall be permissible only to the extent reasonably necessary for a proper correctional objective” and that “excessive force is prohibited” (State of North Carolina, 2011). The ambiguity of the policy leads to the potential of excessive force, while stating that excessive force itself is prohibited. Moreover, the extent of an action to be reasonable to one individual may be considered unreasonable to another. Similarly, an action considered excessive to one individual may not be considered excessive to another. This in turn leads to situations where correctional officers may be injured during an altercation due to the belief they are not permitted to use force or that that the force used must be equal to what they are receiving. Fortunately, North Carolina policy also stipulates that the prohibition of excessive does not mean that officers must first be in physical harm before engaging in appropriate recourse (State of North Carolina, 2011). Further, an officer is by no means required to combat an assault with equal force (State of North Carolina, 2011). Conversely, the fear of using excessive force in situations is nearly as relevant as the propensity to use excessive force (Griffin,