The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that at least 31 people died after being restrained by Georgia law enforcement between 2014 and 2024, with tasers used in 60% of those cases.
The AJC investigation found that 76% of deaths involved a physical confrontation when people were chased, tackled or wrestled by police. Officers commonly fired tasers more than once or multiple officers used tasers on the same individual. In nearly two-thirds of cases, the deceased tested positive for a stimulant, such as cocaine or methamphetamine.
Georgia nearly doubled required police training hours from 408 to 785 in 2024, but the state does not restrict police use of restraint, according to the Police Officer Standards and Training Council. Georgia POST does not track in-custody deaths. Eight officers were charged with murder in two cases over the analyzed period, but criminal charges remain rare, according to the AJC.
Amnesty International reported that at least 500 people in the United States died after being tased by police between 2001 and 2012. Data compiled by Reuters more than doubles the estimates and lists at least 1,081 reported deaths involving tasers. The Department of Justice issued guidance 30 years ago that prone restraint can interfere with breathing.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is a daily newspaper serving the metro Atlanta area and the state of Georgia, according to the publication. The investigation reviewed death certificates, Georgia Bureau of Investigation custody-death records, autopsy reports, toxicology results, police records and body camera footage. At least seven additional men died after being handed off to local jails.
