Summary
A federal report found that U.S. federal prisons misused restraints on prisoners, sometimes causing serious harm or death. The report highlighted that prison officials often broke their own rules regarding the use of restraints, using them for extended periods and as punishment. The Bureau of Prisons agrees with the report's recommendations to change policies.
Key Facts
- The report was conducted by the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General.
- It found violations in the use of restraints, including tying prisoners to beds and chairs for hours or days.
- One person died after being restrained for over two days and later pepper-sprayed.
- Restraints caused permanent injuries for some prisoners, such as extreme tightness leading to amputations or lasting scars.
- Between 2016 and 2022, there were thousands of incidents of prisoners held in restraints for over 16 hours.
- The prisons' record-keeping was poor, which limited the investigation's depth.
- The Bureau of Prisons agrees to revise its policies in response to the findings.
