High court sides with inmates over excessive force

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is making it easier for inmates who are accused of crimes — but not yet convicted — to bring cases of excessive force against jail officials.

The justices on Monday ruled 5-4 in favor of a Wisconsin man who sued jail officers for civil rights violations after they used a Taser gun and other rough tactics while transferring him to another jail cell.

The incident involved Michael Kingsley, who was jailed pending trial on drug charges. He claimed he only had to show the officers were unreasonable in using force.

A lower court ruled Kingsley also had to prove the use of force was intentional, or at least reckless. But the Supreme Court agreed with Kingsley that he only needed to show the conduct was “objectively unreasonable.”