California Corrections To Implement New Use Of Force Policy For Inmates With Mental Illness

In response to a court order, on August 1, 2014, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) submitted new policies and procedures on use of force and solitary confinement of inmates with mental illness that it said represented a “sweeping culture change.” Prison staff will be required to avoid controlled and immediate use of force, and to evaluate the totality of the circumstances of a given situation before using force. The new policies were developed in response to a court order issued in April 2014. CDCR worked with a special master appointed by the court to develop the policies . . .