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LEXINGTON COUNTY -- Lexington County Detention Center houses nearly 900 inmates.  Some are awaiting trial, while others are serving time; and not one of them wants to be there.

“It affords our correctional officers distance,” says Sgt. Don Wieder of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, “meaning that they no longer have to be within arms-reach of a potentially violent or violent human being, when they have to go in and take control of that person.”

According to Wieder, tasers are helping correctional officers do that in a safer way. 

 Wieder trains both deputies and officers on how to use the non-lethal weapon.  He says in the last year, tasers have cut the number of workman’s comp cases in the detention center by 40%.

“What we were concerned about is reducing the number of assaults against our personnel,” said Sheriff James Metts of Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.

Before correctional officers are equipped with tasers, they must first go through 12 hours of classroom and hands-on training, and every year thereafter, a four to six recertification course.

“We know there’s a risk associated as it would be if we were punching someone, kicking them, pepper spraying them, using a baton on them or if we had to use our firearm," said Wieder. 

Wieder points out that in many cases, just seeing the device around the waist of an officer will stop someone from making a move.