California bans law-enforcement use of shock gloves

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a law barring local, state and federal law-enforcement officers in the state from using electric-shock gloves, a measure set to take effect in 2027 and remain in force through 2030. The law also requires the California Department of Justice to study the devices’ safety and report its findings to lawmakers by 2029. The legislation followed reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement planned to equip officers with thousands of the gloves, which deliver an electric jolt intended to gain compliance. Accounts of the federal procurement differed: one described a nearly $17 million contract for 6,000 pairs, while others reported plans to spend up to $20 million. The available information does not establish whether those figures refer to different stages or totals. The bill’s author, Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins, said the ICE plan prompted the measure and that the state should examine potential risks before wider use. The required study creates a process for California officials to assess the equipment while the ban is in effect. The law applies to federal officers operating in California as well as state and local law enforcement.