Pepper Spray for Prison Guards

Prison guards in Canada’s medium security in addition to their maximum security prisons will soon be provided with pepper spray on the job.

The guards who have direct contact with inmates will be equipped with the self defense spray; however at the end of each work day the guards will be required to return the canisters so that they become accessible to the next guard on shift.

Correctional Service Canada has made the choice of presenting its prison guards with the spray canisters which contain oleoresin capsicum, a substance that comes from the hot cayenne pepper, after requests were made from the guards.

The guards asked to be better equipped in a bid to effectively manage inmates properly, as well as contributing to public safety. Only in situations where an inmate can’t be restrained physically will pepper spray then be called into help.

As early as a few weeks ago Correctional Service Canada started to present its guards with the spraying device; however medium and maximum security prisons in Canada are expected to receive the containers within two months.

The guards who will be working with the spray canister won’t receive any formal training in regards to how to utilize it correctly, as knowing how to employ it is already part of the standard training that all prison guards receive.

An estimated cost for the new measures was not available, but the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers was extremely happy about the news; after all prison guards who have been provided with pepper spray consider it a great victory.

A lot of times we often forget that it’s not just police officers who require the assistance of a device that will protect them and others involved. Once a police officer has arrested a suspect that suspect is then transported somewhere else to be placed under the supervision of prison guards.

And just because the suspects are within the confines of a building under the watchful eye of guards, that’s not to say they won’t still attempt to cause trouble. As a result of this, prison guards need to be protected and ready to stop a disturbance that could quickly and easily break out of control. And the only way for them to achieve this is through the assistance of pepper spray.