Civil Liability for Negligent and Inadequate Training: A Private Security Problem

Abstract

Statutory requirements for training of private security personnel are very limited. Less than half the states require any training for private security personnel. Some training may be required of those who carry deadly weapons. The courts are seeing more and more cases involving injuries to citizens by private security personnel. Most of these cases arise from actions such as assault, battery, false arrest, and false imprisonment. However, the facts of the cases clearly reveal a lack of proper training of the private security officer involved. In the cases where negligent training has been an issue the courts make it clear that a lack of training is a basis of support for a cause of action for injury by private security personnel.

If the private security industry is to better serve the public it must train its personnel. If the industry does not train its personnel and the public continues to be injured by ill prepared, untrained private security officers the public may have to seek legislative recourse for mandated private security training.