Safety Rules

NO LIVE AMMUNITION OR LIVE CHEMICAL AGENTS ARE PERMITTED ON THE PROPERTY AT ANY TIME DURING THE RIOT.

The Office Of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization (OLETC), the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), and the National Corrections and Law Enforcement Training and Technology Center (NCLETTC) have instituted safety rules that must be followed during the OLETC Mock Prison Riot®.

These regulations are in addition to any formulated by your respective organizations. IN THE EVENT OF A CONFLICT, THE OLETC/NIJ REGULATIONS WILL TAKE PRECEDENCE. If you believe that a conflict affecting safety exists, contact an OLETC staff member as soon as possible.

Briefings
All participants must attend the safety briefings, as scheduled. Please check the “Schedule” link under the Mock Prison Riot section of OLETC’s website for dates and times regarding safety briefings.

Property Destruction
Absolutely no fires or other destruction of prison property will be tolerated. This includes breaking of glass, light bulbs, furniture, windows, etc.

Profanity
Excessive profanity is prohibited. Participants must remember that video taping will be in progress for most, if not all, of the riot. Vulgar language, particularly with a sexual connotation, will not be tolerated. Participants will be instructed during the briefing as to what is permitted.

Role Players’ Observance of Instructions
All role players involved in the scenarios must follow the instructions of the correctional officers or team leaders, particularly with regard to behavior. Orders such as "put your hands in the air" or "get on the ground" must be complied with immediately. Prior to each scenario, the team leader and an OLETC safety officer will meet with the role players assigned to their particular scenario(s) and explain, in detail, exactly what is expected, how to react, and the level of resistance required to safely and effectively execute the scenario(s).

Clothing
Participating teams should wear their duty uniforms and boots. Role players should wear older clothing as it may be permanently soiled or damaged during the execution of a scenario. OLETC does provide inmate uniforms for role players to wear over their regular clothing. Athletic shoes or similar footwear is recommended for role players. Leather soled shoes should NOT be worn by anyone.

*Special Note: Remember that the temperature inside the prison buildings is generally between 10-15 degrees cooler than outside. You should wear layers of clothing that can be easily removed if the ambient temperature rises.

Communications
Two-way radios will be used for distance communications by the OLETC staff and all safety officers. All safety officers and OLETC staff will be wearing distinctly marked apparel throughout the course of the Riot. You should feel free to call on any of these individuals if you have questions or need help.

Safety Officers
A team of OLETC safety officers will be assigned to every scenario. All participating team leaders are required to coordinate with their safety teams and role players a minimum of 15 minutes PRIOR to the start/ execution of their scenarios to discuss execution of the scenario, expectations of role players, and any other safety issues at hand.

Safety officers also will use this opportunity – with the help of the participating team leader – to double check that any weaponry to be used during the scenario is inoperable and chemical agents and less lethal munitions are of training grade and/or are inert.

Medical Tent
The primary medical tent will be located in the South Yard and will be marked by a Red Cross Flag posted in the front.

Weapons and Firearms
All firearms will be rendered inoperable prior to entrance to the prison grounds. OLETC assigns professional law enforcement personnel to the South Gate to check weaponry, insert safety devices, and “tape off” all weapons. The red tape placed on the barrels of all weapons indicates that your weapons have been professionally secured. OLETC will provide the safety devices and tape for your weapons. Your weapons must remain taped off and inoperable for the duration of the riot.

Again, NO LIVE AMMUNITION OR LIVE CHEMICAL AGENTS ARE PERMITTED ON THE PROPERTY AT ANY TIME DURING THE RIOT.

No simunitions are permitted. No blanks are permitted. No magazines – even if they’re empty – are permitted.

Remember, safety officers and team leaders are responsible for double checking all weapons prior to the start of each scenario.

Pyrotechnics/Less Lethal Munitions
Limited training devices such as flashbangs, inert gas, inert smoke, Pepperball, etc., are provided free of charge based on vendor participation and contribution. A request for these items must be made – via the scenario form - to OLETC personnel in advance. No team may bring in canisters containing flash bangs, OC,CN,CS, etc. No teams may bring in inert substances or empty cans.
No bean bag rounds, rubber balls or bullets, or simulated ammunition is permitted. Use of these items must be simulated.

All safety officers and team leaders are responsible for double checking all devices to ensure that they are inert prior to the start of each scenario.

OC,CS,CN INERT ONLY
Only inert substances will be used in any of the exercises. All canisters, dispensers or sprayers will be examined by a safety officer and the team leader prior to use in the scenarios. These items should never be directly aimed at role players or anyone else during the execution of a scenario. No one should be directly hit with these items.

CANINES
Canines should be on lead and muzzled at all times unless they are being deployed in a scenario. All scenarios in which a K-9 is deployed must involve the handler’s own team members as role players and a full body suit must be utilized. OLETC provides professional K-9 handlers as safety officers for K-9 scenarios.

Open Flame/Cutting Torches
Any use of cutting torches or explosive devices in scenarios is not permitted.

Impact Weapons
Impact weapons may only be used in formations as a defensive weapon or as part of a holding technique. No impact weapons will be used to strike or simulate a strike against any person(s).

Stop Action
Stop Action as defined by OLETC means that all action ceases or freezes. The sound of an air horn or the command EXCALIBER given by a safety officer or ANY participant will immediately result in a total halt to the scenario.

Reporting
In the event of a mishap, accident, or perceived safety issue, notify an OLETC safety officer, any member of the OLETC staff, and your own team leader immediately.