U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is planning to equip its officers with gloves capable of delivering electric shocks, intended as a tool to subdue combative individuals. The Department of Homeland Security published a notice indicating a plan to spend up to $20 million on thousands of these devices by March.
The technology, known as the Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter (G.L.O.V.E.), is manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC and has been used by some correctional facilities and police departments. The company describes the devices as functioning like normal patrol gloves until activated, at which point they can deliver a pain stimulus to the skin, aiding in gaining compliance within seconds. John Peters, president of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, likened the sensation to a 'bee sting' and noted its effectiveness in distracting individuals resisting an officer.
ICE's planned procurement is expected to be the largest purchase of this technology to date, according to Peters. He suggested potential uses include removing uncooperative individuals from vehicles and residences, and aiding in transfers within detention facilities. Peters also noted the potential benefit for officers who may be smaller, less physically able, or older, as the gloves can expedite takedowns and shorten confrontations.
The manufacturer specifies that the G.L.O.V.E. should not be used as punishment, for mere verbal defiance, or on high-risk populations including children, pregnant women, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities. To operate the devices, officers must complete a course and undergo recertification every two years.
Civil rights advocates have expressed alarm over the plan. Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, deputy project director on policing at the American Civil Liberties Union, questioned the necessity of such devices for civil immigration enforcement, raising concerns about the potential for misuse by ICE officers, who she stated already face criticism for their use of force. Borchetta added that the ability to deliver electric shocks with a simple button push, potentially without advance warning to the individual, could lead to harm.
Supporters of the technology indicate it is typically used in specific jail and transport situations, rather than for general patrol. Examples of use include subduing violent suspects refusing to enter vehicles or inmates harming themselves or threatening officers. Peters anticipates that, as with other policing technologies, misuse by a small number of employees is possible, but he believes the devices are unlikely to cause significant injuries. He emphasized the importance of ICE establishing robust policies and training protocols for their use.