Ohio County Agrees to Pay $40K Over Stun Gun Use

The Ohio county that includes Columbus has agreed to pay a total of $40,000 to two inmates who said jailers went too far in shocking them with stun guns.

Tuesday’s settlements come months after Franklin County agreed to dramatically reduce its use of stun guns. A lawsuit filed by a legal rights group and a U.S. Justice Department complaint had claimed jailers routinely used the devices on inmates who posed no threat, including some who were disabled, pregnant or under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien tells The Columbus Dispatch that about six more individual cases could be settled.

The county sheriff’s office has denied any wrongdoing or constitutional violations.