The discussion traces the development of the law in the area of deadly force in prison escapes and examines the standard used in situations involving escapes of pretrial detainees. The discussion notes that the standard for prison disturbances, derived from the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment, as well as the use, in pretrial detainee escape situations, of the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause. The analysis concludes that corrections officials should establish clear, concise, and exact plans regarding the use of force in escape situations and that these plans must consider constitutional protection for the escapees as well as the safety concerns of the prison officials and the public. They must also ensure that all prison personnel are aware of the amount of force allowable in escape situations. Footnotes