MONTGOMERY, Ala. — State Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Jefferson County, has introduced legislation for the 2025 legislative session aimed at banning the use of the hog-tie or four-point restraint method by Alabama law enforcement officers. The bill seeks to prohibit a controversial technique that has been widely criticized as excessive, unnecessary, and incompatible with the principles of human dignity.
The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 16, would outlaw restraining individuals face down by binding their hands and feet together behind their backs. The bill also addresses other prone positions that restrict oxygen or blood flow to the head or neck, practices which have been linked to serious injuries and fatalities during detentions nationwide.
“The use of these restraints is nothing short of cruel and inhumane,” Coleman said. “We must ensure that our law enforcement practices respect the basic dignity and humanity of every individual, regardless of the circumstances.”
If passed, the bill would require all Alabama law enforcement agencies to adopt policies explicitly prohibiting the use of such restraints. Violations would carry criminal penalties, making their enforcement legally binding.
The hog-tie restraint has faced sharp criticism from civil rights advocates and medical professionals for decades. Studies have shown that the position can lead to positional asphyxia, a condition in which breathing becomes dangerously restricted. National organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have long called for a nationwide ban on its use, citing numerous cases of avoidable deaths during police custody.
In Alabama, incidents involving this method of restraint have sparked outcry from local communities, particularly in marginalized groups who feel disproportionately affected by excessive use of force.
“This practice amounts to state-sanctioned torture,” said Clara Jennings, director of the Alabama Center for Justice. “It has no place in a society that values fairness, accountability, and human life.”
Law enforcement representatives have expressed mixed reactions to the bill. While some officers argue that restraints are necessary in extreme situations to ensure public safety, critics counter that safer, less harmful alternatives exist.
Coleman’s bill emphasizes the importance of accountability, requiring law enforcement agencies to update their policies and training protocols to reflect the prohibition. The legislation also aims to foster trust between police and the communities they serve by prioritizing humane treatment.
“The safety of officers and the public is paramount,” Coleman said, “but we cannot allow methods that degrade and endanger human life to remain in use.”
Alabama is not the first state to consider banning such restraints. States including California and Colorado have enacted similar laws in recent years, prompted by high-profile incidents and growing public demand for criminal justice reform. Coleman hopes Alabama will join these efforts and take a stand against what she describes as “excessive punishment masquerading as law enforcement.”
The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and is scheduled for discussion early in the 2025 legislative session. If enacted, the law would take effect on October 1, 2025.
Coleman is urging her colleagues in the Legislature to support the measure, framing it as a moral imperative. “Our laws should reflect our values,” she said. “And no value is more fundamental than the respect for human life and dignity.”