Chapter 5 – Adult Custody and Security Operations

51020.17 Uses of Force‑Reporting Requirements

• Every staff use of force is an incident that shall be reported. Uses of force include non-deadly force, deadly force, immediate force, controlled force and non-conventional force. Verbal commands, the unresisted application of restraints or escort of an unresisting inmate and the movement of an unconscious or otherwise incapacitated inmate are not uses of force.

• Any employee who uses force or observes a staff use of force shall report it to a supervisor as soon as practical and follow up with appropriate documentation prior to being relieved from duty.

• The CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 837 Crime/Incident Report forms are used for reporting uses of force. Written reports regarding both immediate and controlled use of force shall be documented on a CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 837.

• Documentation shall identify any witnesses to the incident and describe the circumstances giving rise to the use of force, whether the inmate is a participant in the Mental Health Services Delivery System and the nature and extent of the force used. The documentation shall also describe any involvement of licensed mental health practitioners prior to or during the use of force incident, if de-escalation strategies were attempted prior to the use of force, and the outcomes of any strategies used.