I.
AUTHORITY:
The authority of the Board of Correction to promulgate this
Administrative Regulation is confirmed in Act 50 of 1968, First Extraordinary
Session, as amended.
II.
PURPOSE:
To describe policies and procedures used by the Department of
Correction when supervising inmates who require escorted transportation outside
the units/centers.
III.
APPLICABILITY:
Wardens/center supervisors; security personnel; any employees
required to restrain, escort, and/or transport inmates in the performance of
their duties; and inmates.
IV.
DEFINITIONS:
A.
Employees:
Persons hired by the Department of Correction or contracted for
services.
B.
Inmates: Offenders incarcerated within a Department of
Correction unit/center; offenders supervised by the Department of Correction
but housed elsewhere; and those offenders supervised by Field
Services.
C.
Restraints: Security equipment used to prevent escape,
assault, or the commission of some other offense by violent or disruptive
inmate(s); and to protect employees, inmates, and other individuals.
V.
POLICY:
It shall be the policy of the Department of Correction to ensure
secure procedures and safety precautions while escorting and/or transporting
inmates at all times.
VI.
PROCEDURES:
A.
Situations
Department employees will use proper security procedures and
safety precautions when escorting and/or transporting inmates at all times
including but not limited to the following:
1. while being escorted and/or transported on
the unit/center;
2. transfer from
one unit/center to another;
3.
while being accompanied on out to court status;
4. while on off-the-unit/center
activities;
5. for inmates being
returned to a unit/center following escape, parole violations, or other
apprehension return situations; and/or
6. for any reason inmates must be escorted,
transported, or held for the good order and safety of the Department of
Correction.
B. Use of
Restraints
1. All inmates being transported
from one unit/center to another or being taken from and returned to a
unit/center must be handcuffed. A security belt and/or leg irons may also be
used to provide additional security. They may also be used while escorting
inmates if used for the good order and security of the department. Exceptions
to this policy may include:
a. inmates in
Class I-A and I-B status;
b.
inmates being transported to a work release unit/center;
c. inmates being transported to and from an
industry or construction job assignment;
d. inmates participating in the Regional
Maintenance Program;
e. inmates
participating in the Plasma Program;
f. inmates being transported to and from band
or choir engagements; and,
g.
inmates being transported to and from Inmate Panel engagements.
2. Handcuffs and/or other security
restraint devices employed are not to be removed until the inmate is delivered
to the receiving authority as specified by the unit warden/center
supervisor.
C. Number of
Escorts and Weapons while Transporting Inmates
1. Normally, two employees shall be assigned
to escort inmates in transfer, with at least one employee being armed.
Exceptions may be made by the unit warden/center supervisor to increase this
security escort policy. Employees accompanying inmates must be extremely alert,
especially in crowds, to guard against escape and/or the acquisition or use of
any type weapon by the inmate.
2.
At least one escorting employee must be female when transporting a female
inmate.
D. Escort
Instructions
1. Escorting employees shall be
provided with a copy of the first page of the admission summary and a gate pass
or transfer. Exceptions: Emergency medical transfers will be handled with gate
passes only.
2. When accompanying
inmates to court, employees are to contact the sheriff or bailiff, chief of
police, or U.S. Marshal as soon as they arrive and receive orders for
subsequent proceedings.
3. Should
the judge order the inmate remanded to a jail to await further action,
escorting employees are to obtain a copy of the Court Order, if possible.
Before turning an inmate over to officials, one of the escorting employees will
make either telephone or radio contact with the unit warden/center supervisor
for instructions. Employees will secure a receipt from the sheriff, chief of
police or U.S. Marshal when the inmate is turned over to them.
4. If overnight travel is necessary, it is
permissible for the escorting employees to spend the night in a city or town
where the inmate may be confined to a secure jail. Upon release from such
temporary confinement, the inmate shall be thoroughly searched for contraband
by Department employees.
Inmates being accompanied on off the unit trips are not permitted
visits, except for attorney/client consultations on order of the court or as
approved by the warden/center supervisor.
Board of Correction Approval Date: 2/27/92
Attorney General Review Date: 27-27/9 2
Date Filed Secy, of State: 2/28/92
Supersedes: AR 404
Dated: 10/18/88
