Civil Rights
Block on Trump's Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court
Recently, an off-duty Ohio police officer used a Taser on an eleven-year-old girl caught shoplifting in a grocery store late on a Monday evening. In that instance, police department had a policy that Tasers could be used on anyone seven and older, but only after certain protocols had been taken. That officer likely didn't follow proper protocol. But it brings up a good question: Can cops use Tasers on children?
Generally, there is no state law on this matter. Rather, it is up to local Police Department Procedure Manuals. The Cincinnati Police Department's policy allows stun gun use on anyone seven years of age or older. But before using the stun gun, officers must consider the severity of the crime as well as the risk to society if the suspect isn't immediately apprehended. Good uses of stun guns are for self-defense or if the suspect is actively resisting arrest, even though a verbal warning has been given. The likelihood of there being an immediate risk to the general public of an eleven-year-old grocery store shoplifting girl on the loose is questionable, at best.
Use of Force is generally permitted by officers under specific circumstances in order to compel an unwilling suspect to comply. There is no generally agreed-upon definition of its scope. Evidently, excessive force is like obscenity; in the famous words of Justice Potter Stewart, "I'll know it when I see it." What has been considered excessive use of force with a stun gun on children?
If you feel that your child has been subjected to excessive force when detained by police or security guards, contact a local civil rights attorney. Use of Force cases are determined by the facts unique to each circumstance, and a trained expert can guide you on what is acceptable, what may be excessive, and what sort of damages you may be able to recover.
Related Resources:
Sign into your Legal Forms and Services account to manage your estate planning documents.
Sign InCreate an account allows to take advantage of these benefits: