PRISONER TRANSPORT 18.1
TEQUESTA POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
TITLE: PRISONER TRANSPORT
GENERAL ORDER: 18.1B
EFFECTIVE: October 1, 2005
RESCINDS: 18.1A
PAGES: 5
CONTENTS:
This order consists of the following numbered sections:
I. PRISONER TRANSPORTATION
II. PRISONER ESCAPES DURING TRANSPORT
III. GLOSSARY
PURPOSE:
To establish guidelines for the safe and efficient transportation of prisoners.
SCOPE:
This order applies to all law enforcement officers.
DISCUSSION:
This order outlines safety and security measures to use when transporting persons who have been
arrested. Restraining devices will be applied in accordance with the general order indexed as “Restraint Devices.”
POLICY:
Members will provide for the safety and security of the prisoners, the transporting officers, and the public.
PROCEDURE:
I. PRISONER TRANSPORTATION:
A. Prisoner Security:
The custody and welfare of prisoners are the responsibility of the transporting officer(s). The
officer(s) must not lose control of arrestees during the transport process.
1.
An officer must never assume that someone else has searched a prisoner. An officer who is transporting a
prisoner will search the prisoner and confiscate any weapons, contraband, evidence or dangerous articles before
transport. Other personal property will remain with the prisoner.
2.
Prisoners will be positioned in agency vehicles so the transporting officer can observe them at all times.
3.
The placement of a prisoner in a vehicle will depend upon the number of prisoners to be transported and the
number of escort officers.
a. Prisoners should be transported in vehicles equipped with partitions to minimize the potential for escape and to
ensure maximum safety and security for the officer. Prisoners will be secured with appropriate restraint devices,
placed in the rear of the partitioned vehicle, and seat belted. No more than three prisoners will be transported in a
partitioned patrol vehicle. When there is an escorting officer, the officer will sit in the front passenger seat.
G.O. 18.1B
b. When a prisoner is to be transported in a vehicle without a partition and only one escort officer (driver) is
available, the prisoner will be placed in the front passenger seat, secured by appropriate restraint devices and seat
belted.
c. When a prisoner is to be transported in a vehicle without a partition and two escort officers are available, the
prisoner will be placed in the rear seat on the passenger side away from the driver of the vehicle. The second
officer will sit behind the driver.
d. One officer will not transport two or more prisoners in a vehicle without a partition.
4.
Prisoners will not be handcuffed to any part of the vehicle.
5.
Juveniles will be handcuffed and transported in the same manner as adults. However, juvenile and adult prisoners
will not be transported in the same vehicle unless arrested as participants in the same offense.
6.
Male and female arrestees will be transported in separate vehicles with the following exceptions:
a. Male and female arrestees that are arrested as participants in the same offense, and who are non-combative,
may be transported in the same vehicle.
b. Male and female arrestees, who are married, or are father, mother, brother, or a sister may be transported in the
same vehicle.
7.
When transporting prisoners of the opposite sex, the officer will notify the Communications Division of the
starting mileage of the transport vehicle, the beginning location, and the intended destination. Upon arrival, the
officer will notify the Communications Division of the ending mileage and the actual location where the transport
terminated.
8.
Prisoners will not be allowed to communicate with anyone other than Tequesta Police Department personnel
during the transport operation. If a prisoner requests to speak with an attorney during transport, he should be
advised that he may request an attorney upon arrival at the destination.
B. Combative, Intoxicated, or Drug-Influenced Prisoners:
1.
Prisoners who are combative intoxicated, or under the influence of drugs will be placed upright on the rear seat of
a vehicle with a partition and seat belted/shoulder harnessed, when possible.
2.
A prisoner who becomes combative after being placed in the vehicle, during transport, or attempts to damage the
(Refer to the general order on
vehicle, the prisoner may be exposed to O.C. spray as a method to gain compliance.
Use of Forcefor the proper use of O.C. spray.)
3.
Officers will not use prone restraint techniques during transport.
4. Prisoners posing any type of security threat will be handled in the following manner:
a. Upon transport, the receiving facility will be made aware of the threat to security.
b. The threat and related, pertinent information will be documented on the rough arrest form or appropriate
booking document.
c. All restraining devices will be removed in accordance with the receiving facilities procedure.
C. Sick, Injured, or Disabled Prisoners:
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G.O. 18.1B
1.
To transport sick, injured, or disabled prisoners safely and securely, officers must first determine the nature of the
illness, injury and/or the extent of the disability. A prisoner with a physical and/or mental disability may require
special care and attention during transport. The transporting officer, or a supervisor, must arrange for the required
special equipment or special vehicle (e.g., an ambulance) so that the transport may be effected securely and safely.
a. Officers will use discretion in arresting persons who are sick or injured. If the person is not an immediate threat
or danger and an immediate arrest is not crucial, the officer should consider obtaining a warrant to be served after
the person has an opportunity to seek medical attention.
b. If a person becomes sick or is injured incidental to an arrest, the officer will conduct an immediate search for
weapons and contraband, and ensure that the prisoner is transported to an appropriate medical facility. If it
becomes necessary to have a prisoner transported to a medical facility by ambulance, the prisoner must be ac-
companied and guarded by an officer.
2.
Prisoners moved or taken to a medical facility may present a grave risk to the public, members of the facility, and
the officer. Extreme caution will be taken to ensure the prisoner is isolated from other patients and is not left
unattended. Handcuffs and/or ankle chains will not be removed unless the officer is in the same room as the
prisoner.
a. If an arrestee is admitted to the hospital, the officer will immediately notify their supervisor. The Palm Beach
County Sheriff’s Office will then be notified and is responsible for providing security until the prisoner is released.
D. Emergencies/Interruptions During Transport:
1.
The officer's primary duty is the safe delivery of the person in custody. Officers transporting prisoners will not
make unnecessary stops. Only under emergency circumstances, and only when the risk to third parties is both clear
and grave, and the risk of prisoner escape is minimal, should an officer stop to render assistance. Circumstances
may include, but are not limited to the following:
a. A law enforcement officer requests help, other assistance is unavailable, and the transporting officer is close to
the officer requesting help.
b. The officer is the first officer to encounter a crash scene, injuries are evident, and no emergency medical
personnel are present.
c. The transport vehicle is involved in a vehicle crash. In this situation, the following applies:
1) The officer will immediately radio the Communications Division and request that a backup officer respond to
the scene.
2) A supervisor will be notified and respond to the scene.
3) The prisoner will receive medical attention, if necessary, and then be transported by the backup officer.
E. Transport Vehicles:
1.
Vehicles used routinely to transport prisoners will have the following equipment removed or disconnected:
interior rear door handles, interior rear door window handles, and rear door locks. The rear area of the vehicle will
be separated from the front by a barrier that allows constant visual contact between the officer and prisoner.
2.
Any vehicle used to transport prisoners will be searched for weapons and contraband before and immediately after
the transport of a prisoner.
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G.O. 18.1B
II. PRISONER ESCAPES DURING TRANSPORT:
The following procedures apply upon the escape of
prisoner(s) in lawful custody and transport either within or outside the jurisdiction boundaries of the Village of Tequesta.
A.
The transporting officer will notify the Communications Division or local law enforcement agency with
jurisdiction. The officer will provide the location of the escape; the escapee’s description, direction of travel, criminal
charges, and notice if the escapee is believed or known to be dangerous. The officer will request backup units as
necessary.
B.
It is the responsibility of the transport officer to secure any remaining prisoners until backup units arrive on the
scene. If the transport involved only one prisoner, the officer will notify the dispatcher and then pursue the escapee.
C.
In addition, if the escape occurs in Tequesta, the following apply:
1.
The Communications Division will notify the following:
a. Available units;
b. On duty supervisor;
c. Chief
d. Other law enforcement agencies depending upon mutual aid needs.
2.
A supervisor will immediately respond to the location of the escape and take charge of the incident.
3.
An Offense/Incident Report will be initiated by patrol personnel. The officer, from whom the prisoner escaped,
may be required to document details of the escape in a memorandum.
III. GLOSSARY:
ARRESTEE - Any person who has been arrested and taken into custody.
IN CUSTODY - Being under the full control of an escorting officer during transportation.
IN TRANSIT - State of being transported, such as when an officer moves a prisoner from point of origin to a destination.
PRISONER - A person who has been arrested and taken into custody and/or incarcerated in a corrections facility. A
prisoner can be either an arrestee or an inmate.
RESTRAINT DEVICES - Equipment used to restrict the movement of a prisoner, such as handcuffs, waist chains, leg
irons, and tie-down stretchers.
SECURITY HAZARD - Any threat to the security of a prisoner, the court to which they are being transported, the facility
in which they are being held or delivered to, or to others with whom a prisoner may come into contact. The degree of
security hazard will dictate the means of transport, the type of restraining device(s) to be used, and other actions to be
taken by the transporting officer to provide proper protection and security.
TRANSPORT - A state of being transported, such as when an officer moves a person in custody from point of origin to
the destination, by vehicle or foot.
TRANSPORT VEHICLE - Any vehicle used for transporting persons in custody from one point to another. This term
does not include civilian vehicles that may be used for transportation of persons in custody such as buses, trains, or
airplanes.
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G.O. 18.1B
INDEXING:
ESCAPES DURING TRANSPORT
PRISONER TRANSPORT
RESTRAINTS
TRANSPORTATION OF PRISONERS
DRAFTED:
JPF/July 21, 2005/Filed: Prstrn18.1
APPROVED:
Pete Pitocchelli, Chief DATE: November 05, 2011
Tequesta, Florida
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