CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Two Ohio prisons have initiated a $349,441 pilot program to equip staff with Taser 10 devices, aiming to enhance safety in facilities housing increasingly violent inmates. Trumbull Correctional Institution began arming staff last week, while Ross Correctional Institution will start training this month.
The program includes training and certifications for staff, who are prohibited from carrying firearms. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) reported that over 78% of current inmates have committed violent crimes, heightening risks for staff. The decision follows the death of Officer Andrew Lansing, killed by an inmate at Ross Correctional on Christmas Day, marking the first such incident since 1996.
Taser 10 devices feature Bluetooth signaling linked to body-worn cameras, which activate when the device is taken off safe mode. ODRC policy restricts taser use in cases involving pregnant or postpartum inmates, those under 15, restrained individuals, or those in elevated locations, submerged in water, or operating vehicles. Exceptions are allowed to prevent immediate threats, escapes, or loss of institutional control.
The Ohio Justice & Policy Center has called for a pause in the program, citing risks to both inmates and staff. A 2017 Reuters report linked 104 U.S. prison deaths to tasers from 2000 to 2017 and documented widespread misuse. With 95% of inmates eventually released, critics argue tasers do not aid rehabilitation and may escalate conflicts.
ODRC has not indicated plans to halt the program.