A referendum passed in Allegheny County in 2021 not only included a mandate for county jail residents to be out of their cells for four hours a day, but also banned the use of leg shackles, restraint chairs and pepper spray. The training our correctional officers have had in the past included using these three interventions. What has replaced these interventions?
If a resident is having a bad reaction to the paper drug k2, yelling, threatening others, flailing arms and is in need of a medical evaluation, what is an officer to do?
If a resident is throwing feces at other residents or staff in an apparent psychotic episode, what is an officer to do?
If two residents are fighting with intent to inflict serious bodily harm on each other, what is an officer to do?
Officers being hurt on the job have significantly increased without the use of these three interventions. Many officers are now fearful about losing their jobs because of how they are being reviewed and disciplined without new training.
Officers are yearning for scenario-based training, not a computer-based training, to learn and to ask questions regarding how to effectively deescalate and physically intervene in situations of violence or potential violence and protect themselves so they will not be hurt or fired.
An RFP needs to be posted concerning a scenario-based training needs which would be comprehensive, providing best practices, realizing officers no longer have use of these interventions.
John Kenstowicz
Morningside
The writer works as an advocate to improve conditions at the Allegheny County Jail.