BOP Program Statement 5566.07 § 4

(a) Staff ordinarily shall first attempt to gain the inmate’s voluntary cooperation before using

force.

See Section 5 of this Program Statement for confrontation avoidance procedures and the Steps

for De-escalation (Attachment D) for de-escalation techniques.

(b) Force may not be used to punish an inmate.

(c) Staff shall use only that amount of force necessary to gain control of the inmate. Situations

when an appropriate amount of force may be warranted include, but are not limited to:

(1) Defense or protection of self or others;

(2) Enforcement of institutional regulations; and

(3) The prevention of a crime or apprehension of one who has committed a crime.

(d) Where immediate use of restraints is indicated, staff may temporarily apply such restraints to

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an inmate to prevent that inmate from hurting self, staff, or others, and/or to prevent serious

property damage. When the temporary application of restraints is determined necessary, and after

staff have gained control of the inmate, the Warden or designee is to be notified immediately for

a decision on whether the use of restraints should continue.

(e) Staff may apply restraints (for example, handcuffs) to the inmate who continues to resist after

staff achieve physical control of that inmate, and may apply restraints to any inmate who is

placed under control by the Use of Force Team Technique. If an inmate in a forcible restraint

situation refuses to move to another area on his own, staff may physically move that inmate by

lifting and carrying the inmate to the appropriate destination.

Employees shall not use the restraints for lifting or carrying an inmate.

(f) Restraints should remain on the inmate until self-control is regained.

If the inmate was placed in restraints because of an assault on employees, the assaulted employee

must not be involved in deciding whether the inmate has regained self-control.

(g) Except when the immediate use of restraints is required for control of the inmate, staff may

apply restraints to, or continue the use of progressive restraints on, an inmate while in a cell in

administrative detention or disciplinary segregation only with approval of the Warden or

designee.

(h) Restraint equipment or devices (e.g., handcuffs) may not be used in any of the following

ways:

(1) As a method of punishing an inmate.

(2) About an inmate’s neck or face, or in any manner which restricts blood circulation or

obstructs the inmate’s airways.

Tape must not be placed over an inmate’s mouth or nose, or around the neck. Protective

equipment must be sufficient to insulate employees from an inmate’s spitting or biting and

comply with 29 CFR § 1910.1030 and the Program Statement Infectious Disease Management.

Employees will not use any unauthorized item or device (e.g., towels, sheets, blankets, hosiery,

masks) in use of force situations. Face coverings placed upon inmates within the realm of

limiting sickness (i.e., pandemic response) is authorized.

(3) In a manner that causes unnecessary physical pain or extreme discomfort.

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When applying restraints, employees must use sound correctional judgment to ensure

unnecessary pressure is not applied to the inmate.

Although the proper application of restraints may result in some discomfort, prohibited uses of

restraints include but are not limited to “hogtying,” unnecessary tightness, or improperly

applied restraints. All inmates placed in restraints should be closely monitored.

When it is necessary to use continued restraints after any use of force incident, hard restraints

(e.g., steel handcuffs and leg irons) are to be used only after soft restraints have proven

ineffective or the inmate has a documented history of defeating soft restraints.

(4) To secure an inmate to a fixed object, such as a cell door or cell grill, except as provided

in § 552.24.

(i) Medication may not be used as a restraint solely for security purposes.

(j) All incidents involving the use of force and the application of restraints (as specified in §

552.27) must be carefully documented.

Whenever practicable, this documentation includes filming the incident and a formal review by

the institution’s After-Action Review Committee. Reports and videos of the incident must be

reviewed and audited by Regional and Central Office.

All use of force incidents must be reported, reviewed, and investigated if deemed necessary to

protect employees from unfounded allegations and eliminate the unwarranted use of force.