Not everyone in the courtroom last Tuesday, however, disapproved of Comparet-Cassani's decision. The guy was out of line and he got spanked. It wasn't a big deal to me. A peace officer can activate the belt up to 300 feet from the wearer by switching on a remote control. The shock, he said, poses few medical risks for wearers because the amperage is low.
Deputies activate the belt by using a device similar to a television remote control.
Defendants who are made to wear the belt are given a form beforehand that tells them they could get an electric shock for failing to comply with an officer's verbal command, Johnson said. In a court, that would include the judge's command, Johnson said. But Los Angeles County Public Defender Michael P. Judge said that sheriff's officials gave out different guidelines when the belts were first introduced. As the sheriff's internal affairs bureau conducts a routine investigation into the June 30 incident, Comparet-Cassani has come under fire from deputy public defenders who were in court when she ordered a bailiff to shock Hawkins. Several have said that Hawkins was speaking loudly and repeatedly interrupted Comparet-Cassani as she denied his motions to remove one of his strikes from his record.