CHICAGO — Videos showing inmates fist fighting and attacking Cook County Jail guards were released by Sheriff Tom Dart's office Thursday.
The videos come as agencies across the country are under increasing pressure to release videos captured in cases where law enforcement uses physical force against civilians.
In April, Dart's office began releasing videos of alleged excessive force by guards and decided that "consistent with that policy" they'd release videos of inmates attacking guards as well.
The four videos were recorded in May of this year. The inmates have since been charged with aggravated battery to a peace officer, the sheriff's office said.
(More videos below)
“There simply is no more difficult job than that of a correctional deputy, and I have extraordinary admiration for my staff who put their necks on the line every day in order to maintain the safety of everyone in the jail,” Dart said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, some of our detainees — particularly in our maximum security divisions — consistently subject correctional staff to violent assaults, verbal threats, indecent exposure, spit and even urine and feces," he said.
All four incidents released Thursday took place in the jail's maximum security Divisions 9 and 10 "which house the most violent and disruptive detainees," according to Dart's office.
Since January of 2015, 163 detainees have been charged for attacking officers.
Video footage is a big reason these charges are possible, Dart's office said, adding that $10 million worth of cameras cover the jail with "nearly all movements from both inmates and staff are recorded and documented at all times."
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