Jail OKs limiting its use of stun guns

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

A central Ohio county agreed Friday to dramatically reduce its use of stun guns after a lawsuit that alleged jailers regularly use them on inmates who pose no threat, including some who are disabled, pregnant or under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

The proposed settlement with the Department of Justice also requires Franklin County to stop using stun guns in almost all cases on inmates who are handcuffed or otherwise restrained. A lawsuit and Department of Justice complaint had also alleged jailers use the guns to shock naked and restrained prisoners and to punish inmates for routine rule violations.

“The important public safety role that law enforcement agencies play does not excuse them from the responsibility to uphold the civil rights of all individuals,” said Thomas Perez, assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.

The Franklin County sheriff’s office in a statement denied any wrongdoing or constitutional violations. The settlement “merely clarifies the current policies” of the office pertaining to use of force by jail deputies, Sheriff Jim Karnes said.

The settlement does not end individual damage claims by four inmates, and Karnes said his office will “vigorously defend itself and its deputies” against those allegations.

The complaint, filed last year by a legal-rights group on behalf of four current and former inmates, said jailers regularly put stun guns in a “drive stun” mode designed to cause continuous pain to someone resisting an officer.