Columbia Use of force to prevent escape from confinement ordinance (§ 16-114)
Chapter 16: Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions · Article II. Code of Offenses
(a) Except as provided in section 16-113, a guard or other law enforcement officer may, subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section, use physical force when he reasonably believes such to be immediately necessary to prevent escape from confinement or in transit thereto or therefrom.
(b) A guard or other law enforcement officer may not use deadly force under circumstances described in paragraph (a) of this section unless the use of deadly force is authorized under state or federal law.
(c) The defendant shall have the burden of injecting the issue of justification under this section.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 16-114
Text from Supplement 139 (September 3, 2026).
Last checked November 1, 2026. The city's official copy controls; this page is a reading copy, not legal advice.