An Act Regarding The Authority To Transport Prisoners Confined In Jail And The Use Of Physical Force With Respect To Prisoners And Persons Who Have Been Arrested

This bill updates Maine's rules for transporting prisoners to court and using force with them. It clarifies that sheriffs (or their deputies) must transport prisoners safely per court orders, and requires written copies of court orders to be left with prison/jail staff. It also defines when correctional staff, transport officers, or law enforcement may use nondeadly force (to prevent escapes or enforce rules) or deadly force (only for self-defense, to stop imminent deadly threats, or during escapes involving weapons). The law explicitly states that only state employees may use deadly force for escapes, and requires officers to warn prisoners before using it.