Under certain circumstances, Detention Deputies can be held liable for failing to protect inmates from assaults from other officers.

• A. Always true
• B. Not enough information
• C. False
• D. True

Answer: (D)

Detention deputies have a duty to protect inmates from harm, including assaults by staff. If a deputy knows there is a real risk that another officer might assault an inmate and fails to intervene or take reasonable steps to prevent it, they can be held liable under civil rights law. The standard used is not mere negligence; it’s deliberate indifference to a known risk. This means liability can attach only under circumstances where the danger is known or obvious and the deputy has the opportunity to act. If there’s no known risk or if the deputy reasonably attempted to prevent harm, there wouldn't be liability. So the statement is true under those specific circumstances.