ICE plans to deploy electric shock gloves for agent use by March

Developed by Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, the device is marketed as a Conductive Distraction and De-escalation Device. It operates by overstimulating the nervous system to force compliance or retreat. The DHS intends to spend up to $20 million to acquire the CTG-5 model, which delivers between 324 and 380 volts. Unlike traditional tasers that use barbs to pierce skin, these gloves require direct contact, making them most effective against bare skin or soaked clothing.

While the manufacturer claims the technology is a humane de-escalation tool, official manuals advise against applying the device to the head, throat, or chest and warn that using multiple units simultaneously on one person could result in injury or death. The product has been in use by various local law enforcement agencies since 2018, though some departments have reconsidered their policies. The Bullitt County Detention Center in Kentucky stopped using the gloves in 2023 after an officer was found to have used excessive force against a restrained inmate.