Incidence and outcome of prone positioning following police use of force in a prospective, consecutive cohort of subjects

Hall, Christine; McHale, Anne Marie Danielle; Kader, Adam; Stewart, Lauren; MacCarthy, Christopher S.; Fick, Gordon H.

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2011.12.008

Cited by 23 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…In the first study, Hall, McHale, Kade, Stewart, McCarthy and Flick researched 1,255 arrestees restrained in the prone position by Canadian police officers. 32 The majority of the arrestees were male and the use of the prone restraint position was common. The researchers reported that not one arrestee died and that the prone position was not associated with the sudden arrest-related deaths.…”

Section: Scientific Research and Prone Restraintmentioning

confidence: 99%

Untitled

2019

FRCIJ

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During a period of confinement in a detention facility, it is not uncommon for detention officers to confront a violent and combative detainee. While rare, a detainee may unexpectedly die during or after the control and restraint process and from being restrained in the prone position. Following a custodial death, a lawsuit will most likely be filed claiming that the responding officers used excessive force and that it contributed to the positional asphyxia death of the detainee. Further, the lawsuit may assert that the administrator failed to train and supervise the officers and failed to implement constitutional policies and procedures. The medical issues associated with prone restraint and the excessive force litigation theories have emerged as a high profile subject in detention liability. This assessment examines the current status of the scientific research performed on prone restraint and provides an assessment of the outcomes and trends in the lower court's decisions regarding a custodial death after the use of the prone restraint position. Recommendations for detention administrators are also discussed.

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Section: Scientific Research and Prone Restraintmentioning

confidence: 99%

Untitled

2019

FRCIJ

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“…Laboratory and prospective field research have shown compelling evidence that prone restraint position does not lead to asphyxia. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] Moreover, CEWs have been increasingly used by law enforcement and corrections officers to assist in subduing violent and combative persons, like those exhibiting symptoms of ExDS and are considered intermediate use of force weapons. In order to quickly control a violent individual, to minimize the person's exertional struggle against control, and to maintain the officer's and the persons' safety, the CEW is the most recommended and preferable approach over other non-deadly force measures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the symptoms associated with excited delirium syndrome and the use of conducted energy weapons

Ross¹,

Hazlett²

2018

FRCIJ

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Incidents where the police and corrections officers confront a person exhibiting the symptoms of the excited delirium syndrome (ExDS) has become an important concern, although rare in occurrence. To date there has been two prospective, epidemiologic studies which have examined the frequency of the symptoms of ExDS during a police use of force confrontation. Using a prospective research design, we analyzed a cohort of 635 arrestees who exhibited symptoms of ExDS as reported by 17 police agencies from six states in the U.S. over twelve months in 2013 during a use of force incident. We sought to determine if police officers could recognize the associated symptoms of ExDS, determine their prevalence during a use of force confrontation, and to assess if the symptoms were observable across multiple agencies. We also assessed the types of resistance displayed by the arrestees and the outcomes of the use of a conducted energy weapon (CEW) in response to the resistance. Officers reported observing thirteen symptoms associated with ExDS. Using descriptive statistics and regression analysis (p=0.05) showed that 58 percent of the arrestees presented 3 to 4 symptoms, 30 percent presented 5 to 6 symptoms, and 12 percent presented 7 or more symptoms. A CEW was applied in 38 percent (n=240) of the incidents and all arrestees were controlled and restrained in the prone position. None of the arrestees died and in 79 percent of the incidents, an arrestee did not sustain an injury. Officers from multiple agencies were able to recognize the varying symptoms associated with ExDS and their prevalence. The outcome of the incidents showed that applying a CEW with an arrestee exhibiting signs of ExDS is a safe and viable use of force device reducing the likelihood of an arrestee death and minimizing arrestee injuries. Based on the results policy, training, and the focus of future research is discussed.

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“…Though most feel that proning is physiologically neutral, some individuals still question whether proning is a factor of sudden death for individuals in police custody as all of the research that demonstrates physiological neutrality were done in healthy research subjects [16]. Multiple studies have shown no deleterious physiological changes with proningand weight placed on one's back, however, to date, only one other study has prospectively evaluated outcomes of real world subjects in a field setting restrained in a proned position [17][18][19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proning: Outcomes of Use of Force Followed With Prone Restraint

Lasoff¹,

Hall²,

Bozeman³

et al. 2017

J Forensic Med

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Background: EMS and police are often faced with violent subjects that require the use of force and the application of restraints. After gaining control and restraining subjects, he or she can be physically placed into a number of positions including prone, supine, on their side or sitting. However, due to cases of sudden death of restrained individuals, there has been increased scrutiny towards the positions in which a subject is left after he is restrained. Methods:This was an evaluation of prospectively collected data from a single law enforcement agency for all subjects in which a use of force was utilized during a one year study period. Data collected includes whether the patient was agitated, resisting arrest, the level of resistance the subject demonstrated and how long the subject resisted for after being placed in his final restraining position. Results:Of 2431 use of force incidents, 1535 (63.1%) patients ended up being placed in a prone restraint position, 43 (1.7%) were restrained lying face up, 64 (2.7%) were placed on their sides and 224 (9.2%) were placed in a sitting position. Of all of the subjects who were restrained, 1863 (76.6%) incurred no injuries. 354 (14.6%) subjects were treated at a hospital and then cleared for discharge. No fatalities were noted in any subjects of the research population. Conclusion:Use of force incidents commonly result in individuals placed in a prone restraint position, however, we found no fatalities of individuals placed in a prone restraint position.

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Incidence and outcome of prone positioning following police use of force in a prospective, consecutive cohort of subjects

Cited by 23 publications

References 28 publications

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Assessing the symptoms associated with excited delirium syndrome and the use of conducted energy weapons

Proning: Outcomes of Use of Force Followed With Prone Restraint

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