➡T CRIMINAL JUSTICE SOLUTIONS 

IN 

SEPT. 04 

U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Justice Programs 

National Institute of Justice 

OWARD 

Duress Systems in Corrections Facilities 

SHORT 

THE PROBLEM	 While on routine patrol, a corrections officer opens a cell door to 

check on the inmate slumped over inside. Suddenly, the inmate 

lunges at the unarmed officer, knocks him down, and stabs him with 

a crude handmade knife. The only witnesses to the violent attack are 

other inmates who, even if they want to, can do nothing to help. 

Fortunately, the officer has triggered the duress system transmitter 

on his belt that is sending a “man down” alarm and summoning aid. 

In order to respond effectively to assaults on personnel and other 

emergencies, corrections facilities must be able to pinpoint the location and nature of the problem within seconds of its occurrence. A 

duress system—typically composed of a closed network of portable 

and mounted transmitters and receivers linked by ultrasonic, 

infrared, or radio frequency waves to a command center alarm 

console—permits the rapid and coordinated response that can save 

lives and reduce institutional damage. 

BACKGROUND	 The National Institute of Justice and the U.S. Department of Defense 

work together on projects involving the development and demonstration of emerging technologies of mutual interest and benefit to 

the military and corrections and law enforcement communities. The 

Staff Alarm and Inmate Tracking (SAINT) program, which operates 

at the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center 

in Charleston, South Carolina, is one such joint venture. SAINT 

researches systems for use in corrections facilities and provides 

guidelines for acquiring and implementing such technologies. The 

program promotes safety for both corrections officers and inmates 

through the use of alarm systems. 
2 On October 28, 2000, SPAWAR asked the vendor community to provide information 

on duress systems for corrections officers. Based on data received in response to this 

request, the center created the Correctional Officer Duress Systems: Selection Guide, 

which is intended to help with the identification, selection, and deployment of this 

technology. 

THIS STUDY	 Correctional Officer Duress Systems: Selection Guide provides detailed information 

on nine commercially available systems, covering the alarm, locator, and control subsystems; hardware/software used; and additional features. The Guide also provides 

contact information for system vendors, so administrators can follow up with requests 

for additional information. 

Three types of alarm systems are available for commercial sale: 

■ Type I: Panic Button Alarm. These basic systems use buttons located on walls, 

underneath desks, and near doorways. Pushing a button transmits a dedicated signal to a central alarm console. Using visible and/or audible enunciations, the alarm 

console identifies the location of the event where the alarm was triggered. Type I 

systems are simple, effective for many types of emergencies, relatively inexpensive, and easy to install. 

■ Type II: Identification Alarm. In Type II systems, portable transmitters broadcast a 

wireless signal to a nearby sensor, which forwards the alarm to a central console. 

The alarm signal includes an identification code that tells the dispatcher who 

sounded the alarm. Because officers carry these transmitters with them, they can 

sound an alarm from almost anywhere within a facility. Use of a Type II system 

also eliminates most nuisance alarms. 

■ Type III: Identification/Location Alarm. Type III systems operate much like Type II 

systems, with the added feature of tracking corrections facility staff members and 

pinpointing the alarm location. An extensive wireless infrastructure identifies, 

localizes, and tracks the transmitting device; the system may produce a positioning 

symbol on a console panel or a map-like display at a central alarm location. 

LIMITATIONS	 Type I systems (panic buttons) may be inaccessible in a duress situation because they 

are mounted in fixed locations. They also lend themselves to nuisance alarms triggered by inmates. 

Type II systems (identification alarms) cannot localize alarms within a facility. 

Type III systems (identification/location alarms) are more expensive than other 

systems and are the most difficult to install. 
BOTTOM LINE Selecting an officer duress system that is appropriate for a particular facility requires that 

the individuals involved in the selection process define their own specific requirements 

and needs. Administrators might consider the following factors when choosing a system. 

Cost. How much does it cost to install and integrate the system? What are the expected 

operational and maintenance costs? 

Scalability/Flexibility. Can the system be expanded and updated as needed? 

Installation and Integration. Is the installation process simple? Will the duress system 

integrate smoothly and successfully with other systems already in operation? 

Reliability. Does the system self-test for accuracy? Does it have a battery backup in case of 

power failure? Do the transmitters indicate when batteries are low? Is maintenance readily 

available? 

Operator Usage. Is it easy to learn how the system works? What about ease of day-to-day 

use? 

Coverage. Given the design quirks and flaws of a particular facility, how complete will 

coverage be? 

WHAT’S NEXT Vendors are working on systems that will use emerging technologies, such as global 

positioning systems; ultra wideband (an RF-based technology that operates across a 

broad frequency range at low power levels, emitting short pulses that exhibit a wide 

spectrum); and biometrics. 

AUDIENCE Corrections facility administrators and corrections officers. 

FIND THIS 

STUDY 

The full report, Correctional Officer Duress Systems: Selection Guide, is available online at 

http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/nij/grants/202947.pdf. 

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Office of Justice Programs 

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Penalty for Private Use $300 

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This document is not intended to create, does not create, and may not be relied upon to create any rights, substantive or procedural, enforceable at 

law by any party in any matter civil or criminal. Opinions or points of view expressed in this document represent a consensus of the authors and do not 

represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. The products and manufacturers discussed in this document are presented 

for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Office of Justice Programs ■ Partnerships for Safer Communities ■ www.ojp.usdoj.gov NCJ 205836