March 27th 2006: From outside the courtroom, NBC news reporter Pete Williams describes the day's proceedings to anchorman Dan Abrams:
WILLIAMS: The old outbursts were gone... He was very docile today... We believe that he's wearing one of those stun belts, and it may be that he was very worried about doing anything that would cause those Marshals to press the button....
ABRAMS: A stun belt? They literally have something around his waist? That they can push a button and...?
WILLIAMS: [Pause] Well...(Video here.)
Defendant Shocked For 'Yacking'
The Stun Belt in the USA: A Growing Concern [amnesty USA]
(REACT) Remote Electronically Activated Technology Stun Belt
"Inmate Notification Of Custody Control Belt Use"
You are hereby advised that you are being required to wear an electronic restraint belt. This belt discharges 50,000 volts of electricity. By means of a remote transmitter, an attending officer has the ability to activate the stun package attached to the belt, thereby causing the following results to take place:
1. Immobization causing you to fall to the ground.
2. Possibility of self-defecation.
3. Possibility of self-urination.FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE OFFICER DIRECTIONS COULD LEAD TO ANY OF THE ABOVE.*
The belt could be activated under the following actions on your behalf and notification is hereby made:
A. Any tampering with the belt.
B. Failure to comply with staff's verbal order to halt movement of your person.
C. Any attempt to escape custody.
D. Any attempt to inflict serious bodily harm on another person.
E. Any loss of visual contact by the officer in charge.
I UNDERSTAND THE ABOVE INFORMATION AND ACKNOWLEDGE BEING ADVISED OF THE SAME.
signature ______________________
The above form was taken from Bureau of Prisons (BOP) policy statement # P.S. 5558.10, dated Sept. 30, 1994.
*It is notable that this document fails to mention other possible side effects such as heart attacks, permanent twitching, memory loss, vomiting, etc.
Very informative post.
ReplyDeleteThanks, RE.
ReplyDeleteCNN have also reported on the use of a stun belt on the second defendant you mentioned. The Report is availabe online. Additional information is to be found in the footnotes of the Amnesty Report you cite, which refer to cases (searchable online) in which electro-shock devices were used on defendants.
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