Overview and Governing Authority
The primary policy governing use of force in Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) facilities is SOP 209.04: Use of Force and Restraint for Offender Control (effective 2/18/2021). It applies to all facility and center staff system-wide and establishes when force is authorized, what types of force are permitted, how force must be reported, and the absolute limits on its use. Multiple other SOPs reinforce and extend these requirements, including SOP 507.04.35 (medical examination after force), SOP 203.03 (incident reporting), SOP 204.11 (video recording), and SOP 227.02 (grievance procedure).
When Force Is Authorized
SOP 209.04 states that force "may be used to accomplish legitimate and necessary functions of Facility/Center operations, and to prevent injury to persons or substantial damage to property." The use of force "is authorized only to the extent necessary to maintain positive control of the offender."
Staff are specifically authorized — and required — to use appropriate force when:
- An escape is in progress;
- It is evident that an escape may ensue; or
- It is evident that danger to persons or damage to property may ensue.
SOP 204.11 defines use of force more expansively as "physical force used to compel an offender to take action against his or her will, or to prevent an offender from taking action that would be damaging to themselves, other persons, or property," and specifies it "may include the use of hands, batons, chemical agents, water pressure, firearms, or other instruments."
Authorization Requirements: Spontaneous vs. Anticipated Force
SOP 209.04 draws a critical distinction between planned and emergency force:
- Anticipated (planned) force: If "time and circumstances permit, employees shall obtain authorization from the Warden, Superintendent, or designee before using force." Authorization authority rests specifically with the Warden, Superintendent, Deputy Warden, Assistant Superintendent, Chief Correctional Supervisor, or Administrative Duty Officer.
- Spontaneous (emergency) force: "In an emergency where it is not possible or practical to seek prior authorization, an employee shall use appropriate force, and then notify the Warden, Superintendent, or designee as soon as possible." The employee "shall be required to justify use-of-force without prior authorization."
SOP 204.11 echoes these same two categories ("Anticipated Use of Force" and "Spontaneous Use of Force") in the context of video recording obligations.
The Absolute Prohibition: Force Is Never Punishment
SOP 209.04 is unambiguous: "Force, security equipment, and restraint equipment are intended to be used only as control measures when necessary. They are not intended and shall never be used as a means of punishment."
SOP 209.06 (Administrative Segregation) reinforces this by stating that administrative segregation itself "is not intended for a means of abuse, any form of corporal punishment, or harassment of an offender."
SOP 210.01 (Boot Camp) extends the prohibition to that specialized context: "There shall be no physical abuse of any inmate/probationer" and staff "shall not strike or lay hands upon an inmate/probationer except in self-defense, to prevent serious injury to another person or property, to quell a disturbance, or for the purpose of inspecting or searching."
Deadly Force
SOP 204.11 specifies that "deadly force will only be utilized as the last resort," and cross-references internal policy sections governing its use. SOP 209.04 cites O.C.G.A. §17-4-20 and Executive Order 13929 (Safe Policing for Safe Communities) as controlling legal authorities. The SOPs in this corpus do not reproduce the full deadly force procedures — those are contained in referenced sub-sections of SOP 209.04 not fully excerpted here.
Restraints
Georgia Board Rule 125-3-2-.12 permits handcuffs, leg chains, waist chains, and waist belts for "transferring violent or potentially dangerous inmates within a prison or between facilities" and for "securing violent or potentially dangerous inmates in public and private areas such as hospitals and clinics."
SOP 209.04 authorizes the use of "special cells such as hardened cells or stripped cells" as security measures, subject to the same authorization chain.
SOP 507.04.48 (Physical Restraints, Health Services Division) narrows the clinical frame: "Mechanical restraints will be used to control an offender's self-destructive or violent behavior only in emergency situations to prevent injury to self or others. Mechanical restraints will be used with clinical justification and in accordance with state law and professional standards." That SOP defers to SOP 508.27 (Time Out and Physical Restraints) for mental health-driven use of restraints.
SOP 209.04 itself acknowledges the mental health carve-out: "When the offender involved is Mental Health (MH) as defined in Section III.D. below, SOP 508.27 … becomes the controlling procedure for use of restraints. At no time does this transfer of control nullify the responsibility and authority of security staff to protect the safety and security."
Pregnant offenders: SOP 507.04.69 (Women's Health Services) requires that "medical conditions and physical limitations will be considered when using restraints on ANY offender" and that "restraints utilized on medically infirmed or pregnant female offenders shall be in accordance with the issued 'medical restriction – no [restraints]'" profile — deferring specific conditions to the medical classification system.
Offenders remaining in restraints at shift end are classified as a Major Incident requiring immediate reporting under SOP 203.03.
Mandatory Notification and Reporting
SOP 209.04 requires immediate notification to the Warden or Superintendent "when any type of force is used." A written report "shall be submitted no later than the conclusion of that shift."
SOP 203.03 classifies the following as Major Incidents requiring immediate reporting up through the chain to the GDC Communications Center in Forsyth, GA:
- Use of force
- Offenders remaining in restraints at the end of a shift
- Discharge of a firearm or other weapon
- Use of chemical agents to control offenders
- Death, serious injuries, escapes, disturbances, riots, sexual assault allegations
The notification chain under SOP 203.03: Warden/Superintendent → Regional Director → Director of Field Operations → GDC Communications Center → Division Director, Office of Communications, Office of Professional Standards, Director of Special Operations.
Video Documentation Requirements
SOP 204.11 requires officers to "activate a camcorder and BWC [body-worn camera] when such use is appropriate to the performance of his or her official duties, including during a use of force." BWCs must also be activated during:
- Shakedowns and searches of an offender or location
- Movement of an offender into segregation or isolation
- As otherwise directed by the Warden or designee
Camcorders and BWC equipment are "issued primarily to CERT Team Officers." The policy explicitly states that "video recordings may be subject to the Open Records Act" — a significant access note for advocates and attorneys.
The policy prohibits editing, copying, or distributing recorded materials without authorization.
Medical Examination After Use of Force
SOP 507.04.35 (Examination Following Use of Force, Health Services Division, effective 2/2/2022) mandates that "a physical evaluation of the offender will be performed and documented following any Use of Force, except the routine use of handcuffs during transport." This applies at all GDC facilities including private and county prisons.
Key procedural requirements:
1. A Licensed Health Care Provider (MD, DO, NP, PA, RN, LPN) must be notified immediately and examine the offender after any use of force.
2. "If at all possible, the examination should be performed at the medical unit before the offender is placed in Restrictive Housing status."
3. In facilities with less than 24-hour medical coverage, the on-call provider is immediately notified and decides whether to send the offender to the ER or a catchment facility.
4. If the offender is violent or combative and in restrictive housing, a provider must go to the unit and at minimum perform a visual inspection.
5. The provider "will exercise utmost care … to rule out mental health disorders as the main reason for violent or combative behavior, and the possibility that the unruly offender may be suicidal."
6. The examination should be "a complete head to toe exam, including a complete set of vital signs."
7. Findings are documented on Form P-30-0011-01 (Examination after Use of Force Form), filed in the offender's health record.
SOP 209.09 (Tier III Program) and SOP 209.08 (Administrative Segregation – Tier II) both cross-reference SOP 507.04.35 as a required procedure within those housing contexts.
Special Populations: Mental Health Offenders
SOP 209.04 gives mental health offenders specific procedural protections: when an offender carries a Mental Health designation, SOP 508.27 governs restraint use. SOP 507.04.35 independently requires examining providers to "rule out mental health disorders as the main reason for violent or combative behavior" after any use of force.
SOP 508.31 (Mental Health Crisis Stabilization Unit) notes that wardens must be "informed of all incidents, measures of restraint, and movements associated with CSU at their respective facilities." CSU admission criteria include the "[n]eed for restraints as a last resort due to the imminent threat or self-harm or harm to others."
SOP 508.11 (Mental Health CQI) requires each facility to conduct quarterly audits on "restraints" and "self-injurious and assaultive behavior" as mandatory CQI topics, building systemic accountability into the mental health oversight structure.
Grievance Mechanism for Use of Force Complaints
SOP 227.02 (Statewide Grievance Procedure) provides offenders a formal mechanism to contest force. It distinguishes between:
- Physical Force Compliance — "Allegation of staff use of force that is in alignment with the letter of, the intent of, and the purpose of GDC written policy and procedures."
- Physical Force Non-Compliance — "Allegation of staff use of force that is NOT in alignment with the letter of, the intent of, and the purpose of GDC written policy and procedures."
Retaliation against grievance filers is prohibited under SOP 227.02.
Training
SOP 506.08 (Correctional Training Requirements) establishes that all staff training, including use-of-force training, must comply with Georgia POST certification requirements and ACA standards. Lesson plans must cover practical exercises, drills, and examinations. The SOP does not, in the excerpted content, specify the number of required use-of-force training hours or a recertification interval specific to use-of-force techniques — those details are likely contained in SOP 506.03 (Basic Correctional Officer Training), which is referenced but not provided in this corpus.
DNA Collection and Force
SOP 208.04 (DNA Collection) specifically addresses use of force in the narrow context of offender refusal to submit DNA samples, authorizing force consistent with SOP 209.04 in those circumstances and requiring disciplinary action for refusals.
DNA of Use of Force Across Housing Programs
SOP 209.04 is cross-referenced as controlling authority in at least eight other SOPs reviewed here: SOP 203.03, SOP 204.11, SOP 208.04, SOP 209.06, SOP 209.08, SOP 209.09, SOP 209.11, SOP 209.55, SOP 210.01, SOP 508.31, and SOP 103.63 — signaling that the force framework in SOP 209.04 is intended to permeate all custody contexts system-wide.