Jasper County Jail Staff Complete OC Spray Certification

Photos Courtesy of JCSO

This week, correctional officers with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office completed rigorous training on the use of oleoresin capsicum (OC), commonly known as pepper spray, as part of their ongoing safety certification program.

Held at the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office Complex, the training included both classroom instruction and hands-on exposure to the chemical agent. Officers were required to experience the effects of the spray firsthand in order to better understand how to operate effectively after exposure — a vital skill for maintaining safety and control in the jail environment.

“Our correctional officers were exposed to OC spray to learn the effects of the chemical and how to continue performing their duties after being exposed,” said Sheriff Chuck Havard. “They were also trained on the legal use of this non-lethal force and how to properly decontaminate individuals who have been exposed.”

The training is part of a required certification that allows jail staff to deploy pepper spray in accordance with state policy and departmental guidelines. Officers were also coached on liability awareness, inmate safety, and real-time response tactics.

“This hands-on training is very rigorous,” Havard added, “but our men and women did an excellent job. I also want to thank our JCSO instructors for their guidance and for closely monitoring our staff throughout the training.”

Photos from the course show officers undergoing the intense simulation and practicing aftercare procedures — a critical part of the protocol when OC spray is deployed.