Policy Text
Procedure Number: G10
Issued: 07/04
Revised: 12/19
USE OF FORCE
AUTHORITY
Title 15 Regulations:
Section 1357 Use of Force
Section 1358 Use of Physical Restraints
Section 1362 Reporting of Incidents
California Penal Code (PC):
Section 298.1
Section 830.5
Section 832
Section 3407(a)
Section 6030(f)
Section 22820
California Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC):
Section 222
Related JDF Procedures:
B5 Special Incident Report
G5 Grievances
G11 Physical and Mechanical Restraint
G20 Pregnant Female Youth
L3 Medical and Dental Procedures
L6 Mental Health/Crisis Services
Related Probation Officer Procedures:
F2 Use of Force
G11 DNA Testing
Related Probation Department Policy:
IV10 Employee Conduct
DEFINITIONS
“Use of force” is defined as an immediate means of overcoming resistance and controlling the
threat of imminent harm to self or others.
“Reasonable and necessary force” refers to the amount and type of force that an objective,
similarly trained, experienced, and competent officer, faced with similar facts and circumstances,
would consider necessary and reasonable to ensure the safety and security of the youth, staff,
others, and the facility.
OVERVIEW
The El Dorado County Probation Department has established guidelines for the use of force
involving youth detained in Juvenile Detention Facilities (JDF). In the JDF “use of force” is
manifested as the application of physical techniques or tactics, chemical agents or weapons to a
human. It is not a use of force when a youth is searched, escorted, or handcuffed. An officer shall
avoid the use of force whenever possible and only utilize force to the extent necessary to ensure
the safety and security of the youth, staff, others, and the facility, and that appears reasonable and
necessary to overcome the resistance of the youth based on the totality of circumstances
presented to the officer at the moment the force is applied. Force is never to be used for
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