Exclusive Jail Training

     They're an elite group of men and women trained to handle scary situations. They're called the Detention Response Team and their job is to control chaos inside the Lubbock County Jail.

     "We train at least once a month and run scearios as much as we can. DRT's number one goal is professionalism at all times and treat everyone like they want to be treated," Corporal Cory Lucus, Commander of DRT.

     It's the golden rule for the squad of 30 men and women who make up the Detention Response Team at the Lubbock County Jail.
     Formed in 1999, members of the DRT work as negotiators with inmates, but more importantly they're trained to deal with potentially life threatening situations. 
  
     "We can longer come to agreements with the inmate to resolve it peacefully then the drt will come in and do whatever needs to be done to get the indiv in compliance," Lucus said.

     And whatever needs to be done could include pepper balls, pepper spray, foam, and physically restraining inmates.

     "Not only does it create a safer environment for the inmates but for the officers as well it reduces the level of force needed to gain compliance from an inmate," Lucus said.

     And every month, the DRT trains for these situations. Day one of training is all about hitting the books...reviewing and refreshing when and how to use non-lethal force on an inmate.

     Later in the day, it's time to suit up and practice what they've learned.

     "These guys get out there and sweat and put their heart into it," Lucus said.

     And sacrifice their bodies too. Each DRT member dresses up as an inmate and then hit with pepperballs in order to experience what the inmates go through.
     They also practice, tactical situations, inmate extraction, and riot and crowd control, trying to make everything as true-to-life as possible.
     But most importantly, the team practices their communication skills which their number one defense when dealing with
     "95 percent of our stuff can be resolved just by proper comm and finding out what the prob is with the inmate, why upset... he gets frustrated and just like anyone he needs a place to vent," Lucus said.