Aug 26 2010
Officials at the Los Angeles County Jail have announced that the U.S. jails will deploy a new laser weapon to break up fights between jail inmates. The laser weapon targets trouble-makers by producing a blast of hot air to break up the fights.
The laser device will be deployed at the Los Angeles County Jail’s Pitchess Detention Center and will be positioned on the Center’s ceiling. The weapon produces a beam of up to 100 ft and is operated by using a computer monitor and a joystick. The laser’s wave easily penetrates into the skin, whereby targets will move away from the beam angle to avoid the excruciating pain.
Jail officials have tested the laser weapon on themselves and found it to be quite painful. However, the non-lethal weapons including tasers and pain rays are controversial.
Sheriff Lee Baca stated that the laser weapon will enable them to intercept a fight without harming the combatants or entering the area.
Source: http://sheriff.lacounty.gov