Can prison guards shoot people who are trying to escape?

Question

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if so, are they only allowed to shoot in the legs, or anywhere?

talking about policy in america

Answer 1

Yes... They don't shoot for the legs, arm, hand, or foot, that
only works in the movies. You shoot for "center mass" (the body).

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

About 15 years ago, I was part of a group tour of Folsom Prison. We had to sign a waiver that we accepted all the prison authority conditions before we could go on the tour.

One condition was that if we ran AT ANY TIME inside the prison, we could be shot. They didn't say anything about being between the wall and the outer fence. It was very easy to understand -- no matter what happened or where we were, DO NOT RUN or we would risk being shot. We also agreed that prison authorities would not negotiate for our release if we were taken hostage.

While we were inside the prison viewing one of the shops, there was a fight in the prison yard. A prisoner was stabbed by another prisoner. One of the guards fired a warning shot into the air. We were told that if the fight had not stopped, the guard could have shot the prisoner with the knife to prevent him killing the other prisoner.

Answer 4

In CA, only the towers have guns. The officers on the ground, do not.
Unless the inmate is attempting to cause great bodily injury to another, the use of force policy does not justify a shooting.

An inmate is only shot if he is trying to take the life of another.

Also, when shooting, you always aim center mass. If you need to use a gun, the threat obviously needs to be stopped. Even if you're an amazing shot, shooting someone's moving leg is incredibly difficult.

Answer 5

i know that the federal prison in minnesota works like this........there are two fences, one going around the yard, and one about 100 ft. after the first fence. The second one is covered in the razors. They can shoot you in the leg or somewhere non-fatal, if you decide to jump the first. BUT....as soon as you even touch the second, it is shoot to kill.

Answer 6

Comeon folks, shoot their legs. Have any of you that sprout that actually tried it. The guy is running, you always shoot for the biggest target, the body. I worked as an LEO and Corrections Officer. You shoot him, and if they try to keep running you shoot them again.

Answer 7

There are two fences or a wall. If they can prove the can get over the first fence or 1/2 up that wall, yes shoot to kill. There is no aiming at the legs, it is shoot center mass to kill

Answer 8

In Texas. according to the Texas Penal Code a guard employed by a correctional facility or a peace officer is justified in using any force, including deadly force, that he reasonably believes to be immediately necessary to prevent the escape of a person from the correctional facility,

Answer 9

What do you think guns are for in a prison, and they dress them so head shots are easier(red ball caps) or center man shots(makings on back of shirt DOC) American prisoners have the option of staying in their cell during riots and most prisons have a non-participation area(in case of shots fired lie on ground/move to designated area) prison guards are so badly out numbered that they have few options and if they get all tree hugging hippie they will be captured by the bad prisoners and the prison will not do a thing to "buy them back" they have to sign a no negotiation agreement in case of capture. freaking scary, hunh?

Answer 10

I did not know prison guards carry guns. I have a friend who is a prison guard at the Chino prison in California and he is not allowed to carry a gun.