Special Operations Response Team

Special Operations Response Teams are a group under the US Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), a component of the US Department of Justice.

SORTs are highly trained tactical units capable of responding to prison disturbances and providing assistance to other law enforcement agencies during emergencies.

Teams are required to hold at least two mock emergency exercise per year to test their response to any potential crisis situation that may arise.

In the event a large scale emergency should arise, the BOP maintains palletized trailers of equipment at several storage areas around the country.

In 1991, Cuban inmates at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Talladega, Alabama rioted and took several hostages.

The city of Los Angeles was unable to cope with the rising level of anarchy in its streets, and requested assistance from both the state and federal governments.

The US government immediately ordered the deployment of federal troops and law enforcement agencies to the embattled city.

This led to some politicians and journalists decrying the use of unidentifiable federal law enforcement officers due to a lack of accountability.

[8] On June 18, 2020 the Office of Inspector General issued its report on two incidents at BOP facilities involving SORT members during training exercises.

During one mock exercise, the SORT deployed a "flash bang" grenade, a non-lethal munition intended to disorient enemies, when it exploded on a staff member causing significant injuries requiring surgery and ongoing treatment.