HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-22-2000 General Orders.~ OPS-09.1
Date of Issue General Order Number
March 17, 1999 99-03
Effective Date I Section Code
March 20, 1999 I 0PS-09
ate Amends / Cancels
Al Orders In Conflict
I C.A.L.E.A. Previous Review Dates:
Chapter 71 February 2000
INDEX AS:
Use of force
Prisoner Transport
Handcuffing
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for transporting persons in the
custody of officers of the Iowa City Police Department between points of arrest and
initial booking.
II. POLICY
Transporting Prisoners is a potentially dangerous function. Therefore, it is the policy of
the Iowa City Police Department to take the precautions necessary while transporting
to protect the lives and safety of officers, the public and the person in
OPS-09.2
III. PROCEDURES
A. Vehicle Inspection
1. At the beginning and end of each tour of duty, all vehicles regularly
used for prisoner transport shall be inspected for readiness as follows.
a. The safety screen shall be securely in place and undamaged.
b. All windows shall be intact, and outer door latches in proper
working order.
c. Rear-seat door handles and window controls shall be
deactivated.
d. The interior shall be thoroughly searched to ensure that no
weapons or contraband have been left behind or hidden within
the vehicle.
2. Prior to placing a prisoner in a vehicle for transport, the transporting
officer shall inspect the interior for weapons or contraband. The
vehicle shall be searched again after the prisoner has been delivered
to the detention facility or other destination.
B. Handcuffing/Use of Restraints
1. Officers should handcuff (double-locked) ali prisoners with their hands
behind their back and palms facing outward.
2. The officer may handcuff the prisoner with his/her hands in front, or
use other appropriate and approved restraining device(s) where the
prisoner
a. is in an obvious state of pregnancy,
b. has a physical handicap, or
c. has injuries that could be aggravated by standard handcuffing
procedures.
3. Known juveniles will be handcuffed only when reasonably necessary
to ensure the safety of the officers, juvenile or others.
4. Prisoners shall not be handcuffed to any part of the vehicle during
transport.
5. Additional approved restraint devices may be used to secure a
prisoner who violently resists arrest or who exhibits behavior such that
he/she poses a threat to himself, the officer, to the public, or to prevent
escape,
6. Qfficers are prohibited from transporting prisoners who are restrained
in a prone position. The technique of "hog tying" shall not be used by
members of this department.
OPS-09.3
C. Transport
1. Prior to transport, all prisoners shall be thoroughly searched for any
weapons or contraband.
2. Prisoners should not be handcuffed together.
3. When possible, females should be transported separately from males.
4. Juveniles shall not be transported in the same area of a vehicle with
adult prisoners.
5. Special precautions should be employed when transporting high-risk
prisoners. In particular:
a. combatants should be transported separately
b. members of rival gangs should be transported separately
6. Prior to initiating transport, the officer should provide communications
with the following information.
a. arrest location and destination
b. mileage reading before and after the transport of juveniles or
member of the opposite sex.
c. number of persons being transported
d. nature of the charge(s)
7. The officer should assist the prisoner(s) into the squad car, taking care
to avoid the prisoner(s) striking their head on the vehicle. Prisoners
should be instructed not to lean back on their wrists.
8. Prisoners should be transported in a manner that allows for constant
visual observation. Seating of officers and prisoners should, when
possible, conform with the following:
a. Where the vehicle has a security screen but one transporting
.officer, the prisoner should be placed in the back seat on the
right hand side of the vehicle. When the vehicle is not
equipped with a screen and has only one transporting officer,
the prisoner shall be placed in the right front seat and secured
with a seatbelt.
b. When a prisoner is being transported in a two-officer vehicle
without a security screen, the prisoner shall be placed in the
right rear seat. The second officer shall sit in the left rear seat.
c. Leg restraints should be used when a prisoner exhibits or an
officer reasonably believes the prisoner is likely to engage in
violent behavior or is an escape risk.
d. A single transporting officer shall not transport more than one
prisoner in a vehicle without a screen.
OPS-09.4
e. Prisoners should be instructed that they are not to speak to
each other, or have contact with outside parties during
the transport process.
f. Prisoners should be secured in a seatbelt during transport if the
officer(s) feel they can safely do so.
9. The physical well-being of prisoners shall be monitored during transit.
Particular attention shall be directed to persons reported or suspected
of being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol or who have a
history or propensity for violence.
a. Prisoners who report or display symptoms of serious physical
illness or injury during transit shall be taken to an emergency
room for treatment.
b. Escorting officers shall remain with the patient at all times
unless relieved by other authorized personnel. (this may
include medical staff)
c. Potentially violent persons in custody shall be restrained at all
times in treatment facility unless such restraint would interfere
with essential treatment.
10. Symptoms or reports of physical or mental illness (such as threats of
suicide or psychotic behavior) shall be reported to the receiving
officer.
11. Any wheelchairs, crutches, prosthetic devices, and medication should
be transported with , but not necessarily in the possession of the
prisoner. In instances where a person with a disability must be
transported, and the disability prevents transport in a marked patrol
car, a watch supervisor should be contacted for assistance. Alternate
methods of transport may include but are not limited to the use an
unmarked unit or requesting an ambulance to transport.
12. Prisoners should not be left unattended during transport.
13. Officers shall not engage in unrelated enforcement activities while
transporting prisoners unless failure to act would risk death or
serious bodily injury to another. In non-life threatening yet serious
situations, officers should call for back-up assistance and may
remain on-hand until such assistance has arrived.
14. Any escape shall be immediately reported to the communications
center with a complete description of the fugitive, mode and direction
of travel, original charge and propensity for violence if known. The
communications operator shall notify the watch supervisor. The
officer shall complete report detailing the escape. When a subject is
not immediately captured, the watch supervisor should consider
notifying outside agencies and request assistance. He/she may
OPS-09.5
also consider the use of a canine unit in tracking the subject. If this is -
done, it shall comply with the general order pertaining to canines.
15. If a prisoner is an escape risk, the officer shall notify the receiving
agency of this information.
16. When a prisoner is transported to the Iowa City Police Department for
processing or questioning, the officer shall maintain control and visual
contact with the subject at all times. In this case, the officer will decide
if the handcuffs may be removed during the processing or interview
process.
17. Upon arrival at the Johnson County jail, weapons shall be secured in
the provided lockers.
18. Prisoners are in the custody of the Iowa City Police Department until
they are received by Johnson County Jail personnel or released by
the officer.
19. Persons who are transported for non-criminal procedures should be
patted down and seated as indicated above. The officer will decided
if the use of restraints is warranted.
20. Upon arrival at the receiving agency, the officer shall comply with the
security requirements of that agency pertaining to weapons and
prisoner restraints. Officers should advise the receiving officer of any
medical conditions or special concerns regarding the prisoner as well
as delivering all required paperwork and/or documentation regarding
the subject. The receiving officers name should be included on the
"booking" sheets.
t~'~], ~inkelhake, Chief of Police
WARNING
'This directive is for departmental use only and does not apply in any criminal or civil
)roceeding. The department policy should not be construed as a creation of higher
!legal standard of safety or care in an evidentiary sense with respect to third-party
claims. Violations of this directive will only form the basis for departmental~ _
administrative sanctions.