New prison director ends use of birdshot to control inmates

James Dzurenda, Nevada’s new Director of Corrections, has ordered an end to the use of birdshot to control inmates in Nevada’s 18 prison institutions.

He said the system will in the future use less lethal options such as impact weapons and rubber bullets. “Technological advances over the past 30 years have given us many more options that are better suited to our needs within the facilities,” said Dzurenda. ‘It’s time we make the move toward less lethal alternatives.”

The change has been in the works for some time with changes to the system’s use of force policies and added staff training.

“The goal is to gain compliance and change inmate behavior before physical force needs to be used,” he said. “There will still be fights and issues in prison. It’s the nature of the business. But I feel confident staff will be able to stop those altercations safely with minimal injury and without the use of birdshot.”

The new policies will use such things as pepper spray, beanbag guns, rubber pellets and other such options. Dzurenda has also changed the department’s mission statement since his appointment earlier this year, highlighting the responsibility of corrections to address inmate rehabilitation.

“Re-entry begins the moment an inmate arrives at our door,” he said in a statement.

He said the department has an obligation to provide programs and services that give inmates the chance to improve while in custody and give them a better chance to succeed once released.

“The majority of inmates will be released into the communities across the state and with the appropriate resources, we can enable them to be successful,” he said.