Various kinds of electric shock devices are authorised for use in South African prisons. These are designed to enforce compliance through pain, incapacitation or fear of activation. However, their use has been associated with acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. This policy brief provides an overview of electric shock equipment and describes known harmful medical effects associated with its use. It highlights the use and misuse of these types of equipment in correctional institutions in South Africa, and outlines how and why this equipment is in breach of local, regional and international standards.
This brief is designed to raise awareness of these concerns and to provide recommendations for change in how electric shock equipment is used in South Africa.
Recommendations:
- body-worn electric shock devices (e.g. stun belts) have no legitimate law-enforcement purpose and their use should be prohibited
- hand-held direct contact electric shock equipment,such as stun shields and stun guns, are prone to abuse and should also be prohibited
- non-electrifi ed batons, shields and cuffs should instead be used to achieve restraint and control
- given the problems with other categories of electric shock devices, wired projectile electric shock weapons should be prohibited from being introduced into correctional centres or other places of detention
- all use-of-force incidents should be reported and carefully monitored
- all prison policies and staff training should be compatible with domestic and international human-rights norms and standards