Is it illegal to lock down a public building?

Question

For instance...

Two opposing gangs enter a hospital and start fighting. To ensure saftey of other patients and hospital staff, the hospital administration locks all interior and exterior doors prohibiting everyone from entering or leaving, both into the hospital, and from room to room.

Considering fire safety codes, providing for safe escapes and such, is the above action leagal?

Answer 1

A hospital's number one priority is the safety of its patients. A general lockdown is for the protection of all inside the hospital, and so long as the intention is not to detain, but rather to safeguard, the hospital will not be charged by the PD unless someone sues. Then, they'd have to come up with a pretty good reason why they would rather be outside dodging bullets than staying inside. Of course, as a genral rule of thumb, people can leave the hospital in lockdown as long as they are delcared safe to leave, and the situation outside is safe without reasonable doubt. If the hospital had a radiation leak, you will not be able to leave unless you've been cleared. If there is a gang outside, you may not be able to leave if it might put other patients in danger.

Answer 2

It would be illegal to lock down without a way to get out. They would need to station a person at each exit to allow them to exit in the event of fire or some other reason. I would call the fire department they inspect these things. People can die if this is not handled

Answer 3

Of course, it would be nice if they severely punished the gang members.