Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
I.
AUTHORITY:
The authority of the Board of Correction and Community Punishment
to promulgate this Administrative Rule is vested in Act 50 of 1968, First
Extraordinary Session, as amended; Acts 548 and 549 of 1993 (Ark. Code Ann. ss
16-93-1203
and
12-27-105
of 1993).
II.
PURPOSE:
To provide department personnel or contracted staff guidance
regarding the use of restraints.
III.
APPLICABILITY:
Wardens/center supervisors; chief administrative officers;
security personnel; any staff required to restrain offenders in the performance
of their duties; and offenders.
IV.
DEFINITIONS:
A.
Restraints:
Security equipment used to prevent escape, assault, or the commission of some
other offense by violent or disruptive offenders; and to protect employees,
offenders, and other individuals.
B.
Offenders:
Persons sentenced to the Department of Correction or persons sentenced to the
Department of Correction for judicial transfer to the Department of Community
Punishment and persons confined within a community punishment center as a
condition of probation, suspended imposition of sentence or post prison
transfer or, if appropriate, under the supervision of the Department of
Community Punishment.
V.
POLICY:
It shall be departmental policy to use restraints only when
circumstances require the protection of offenders, staff, or other individuals
from potential harm or to deter the possibility of escape.
VI.
PROCEDURES:
A. Use of Equipment
1. Upon the determination of the
warden/center supervisor, chief administrative officer, or designee, handcuffs
and/or leg irons may be utilized when escorting/moving offenders within or on a
unit/center.
a. Leg irons may also be utilized
to provide additional security.
2. Handcuffs and/or security belts may be
employed to restrain any offender in segregation when said offender is moved
within he unit/center.
3. Restraint
devices shall not be removed until the offender is placed in a secure area or
upon the express approval of the warden/center supervisor, chief of security,
or designee. Restraints will not be used longer than is necessary.
4. Mechanical means of restraint will not be
used as punishment. No mechanical restraints will be placed about the neck of
an offender, nor will restraint equipment be applied in any way so as to
inflict physical pain or to restrict blood circulation or breathing.
5. Use of restraints within the cell shall be
determined by the warden/center supervisor and/or medical mental health
authorities.
B. Training
1. New employees will participate in one hour
of pre-service training that will include the policy, use, and practice of
applying restraint equipment.
2.
In-service training classes in the policy, use, and practice of applying
restraint equipment should be held at least twice a year. Officers will
participate in at least one refresher course per year.
3. All pre-service and in-service training
will be coordinated through the Arkansas Department of Correction/Community
Punishment Training staff.
VII.
REFERENCES:
ACA Standard 3-4183; 3-4322; 3-4183-1
Board Approval Date: 2/17/94
Effective Date: 3/10/94
