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| Serious jail uprisings now fall to new response team |
| By Daily Herald |
| Published: 02/09/2004 |
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Three words of advice for Lake County (Ill.) jail inmates - don't make waves. Those who do in a serious way are likely to face the Corrections Response Team unveiled last Thursday by Sheriff Gary Del Re. The team is highly trained to quickly respond to potentially dangerous situations ranging from uncooperative prisoners who won't leave their cells to hostage takers. The 18-member unit recently completed a rigorous two-week training course under Joseph Garcia, a drill instructor-type from the private U.S. Corrections - Special Operations Group of Williamsburg, Va. The company says it provides training to such response teams worldwide "Today's prisoner is well-educated in making problems, younger and stronger than ever before," Garcia said, adding that the top concern in corrections is the liability involved in the use of force to address problems. Striking that balance, Garcia said, requires a group of officers trained in applying the right amount of force to quell a disturbance. Black-uniformed team members showed their skills last Thursday during a demonstration of how they remove an "unruly" prisoner from a jail cell. Garcia said the five who rushed the prisoner had specific duties once inside. Team members are equipped with oxygen tanks and masks so they can accompany firefighters into the jail in case of a fire and what Garcia terms "state of the art" nonlethal weaponry. Del Re said five response team members will be on duty on every jail shift. The team is made up of a mix of veteran corrections officers and newer staff members. Team members also can be used for courtroom security and transport details involving high-risk prisoners. Undersheriff Gary Stryker said the training cost approximately $50,000, $32,000 of which was funded through a government grant. Another $15,000 was spent on equipment, he said. Team members will undergo at least eight hours of monthly training, Del Re said, and will participate in training sessions with the department's tactical unit. |
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