What You Need to Know
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement awarded a $16.7 million contract for 6,000 electric shock gloves.
• The gloves, known as the Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, cost $2,495 each and are designed for compliance.
• The contract was signed with Compliant Technologies LLC and includes support equipment and services for six months.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has awarded a $16.7 million no-bid contract for 6,000 electric shock gloves, referred to as the Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter (G.L.O.V.E.). The gloves are intended to assist officers in controlling resisting detainees and reducing reliance on more lethal force. Each glove costs $2,495, and the contract, signed with Compliant Technologies LLC, includes support equipment and services for a six-month period. ICE describes the gloves as “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices,” which can be activated to deliver a painful shock upon direct contact with a person’s skin. The agency asserts that this new tool will help officers manage situations involving active or passive resistance.
Why It Matters
This contract reflects ICE’s ongoing efforts to equip its personnel with less lethal options in response to increasing threats and violence against officers. The introduction of electric shock gloves aims to provide a means of de-escalation during arrests and disturbances at detention facilities. Historically, ICE has faced criticism for its use of force, and the agency’s procurement documents indicate a need for alternatives to firearms. The gloves are to be used under specific policies and training, although details on these safeguards remain limited.
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