Santa Clara County sheriff touts minimal Taser use but wants more - San Jose Spotlight

"Deputies used Tasers just nine times out of 252 incidents where correctional officers needed to use weapons or brute force on incarcerated people, according to a report from Sheriff Bob Jonsen's office. The department is in the midst of a Taser pilot phase - the results of which could decide whether to arm a swath of more deputies. Correctional officers fired Tasers at people seven times in the Main Jail and two times in Elmwood Correctional Facility, according to the report."

"Over that same time period, deputies brandished or displayed their Tasers 60 times. At a Tuesday Community Correction and Law Enforcement Monitoring Committee meeting, sheriff officials argued Tasers effectively deescalated 56% of the incidents they were involved in - and say the low rate of firing is a reflection of sound judgment. They argue Tasers fueled a 4% decrease in injuries among people in jail after fights since last year, though the data shows hospitalizations remained the same."

""It definitely has been very helpful in maintaining the number of assaults occurring in the facility - and at the very least, stopping the assaults before they continue," Undersheriff Dalia Rodriguez said at the civilian oversight meeting. "As we move on with the program the hope is we can reduce the number of assaults, particularly with the inmate versus inmate population.""

Deputies used Tasers nine times out of 252 incidents where correctional officers needed to use weapons or brute force on incarcerated people. The Taser pilot included Main Jail and Elmwood Correctional Facility, with seven firings at Main Jail and two at Elmwood. Deputies brandished or displayed Tasers 60 times during the same period. Tasers deescalated 56% of incidents in which they were involved, and the low firing rate was characterized as reflecting sound judgment. A 4% decrease in inmate injuries after fights was noted while hospitalizations remained unchanged. Oversight monitors could not access body-worn camera footage of interviews with Taser victims.

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