e9_transportationofoffenders

Procedure Number: E9 Issued: 05/86 Revised: 02/06 Revised: 12/12 1 TRANSPORTATION OF OFFENDERS AUTHORITY Related Probation Officer Procedures: C6 Temporary Releases From a Juvenile Detention Facility E3 Arrest of Juve niles and Adults E7 F2 Radio Procedures Continuum of Force I1 Interstate Compact on Juveniles Related Probation Officer Policies: IV31 County/Cellular Telephones IV32 Department (County) Vehicles GENERAL TRANSPORTATION PROCEDURES When in the course of performing duties it beco mes necessary to transport offenders, probation officers shall carefully plan the circumstance s of the transportation including assessing the potential for problems when dealin g with unstable or dangerous offenders, the securing of an appropriate vehicle for transportation, and acqui ring additional staff assistance as appropriate. Any probation officer transporting offenders must have a valid Ca lifornia or Nevada driver’s license in his/her possession. Further, probati on officers and persons being transported shall always utilize seat belts. Lastly, the transpor tation vehicle shall be a County vehicle, licensed and maintained by the County. Probation officers ar e not authorized to use private vehicles to transport offenders. While using a department vehicle, the probation officer shall follow all traffic and parking laws during the pick -up and transportation of offenders. Prior to transporting an offender, the County vehi cle shall be checked for fuel level and filled whenever the fuel level is one-half full or less. The vehicle should also be checked for potential safety hazards such as low tire pressure, etc. Whether transporting an in custody or out of custody offender, the interior of the vehicle must be searched fo r contraband and damage prior to the transport, and searched again upon return after the offender has been removed from the vehicle. If contraband or damage is found af ter the offender has been transported, a Probable Cause and Probation Violation Incident Report (form #256), a Post Release Community Supervision Incident Report (form #340), or a Mandatory Community Supervision Incident Report (form #339), whichever is appropriate, mu st be written by the probation officer and submitted to his/her supervisor as soon as possibl e, but no later than the end of the following workday. If contraband or damage is found pr ior to transporting an offender, the probation officer must determine if driving the vehicl e remains appropriate, a nd whichever report is appropriate, as listed above, is completed as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the following workday, and submitted to the supervisor. A probation officer shall not transport an offende r of the opposite gender alone. Arrangements must be made for the assistance of another o fficer of the same gender as the offender to accompany them. If such assistance is unavail able, two male officers can transport a female offender, or two female officers can transport a male offender, following supervisory approval. The only exception is a probation officer may transport a group of minors who are out of custody, such as a prison tour. Any questions about this exception shoul d be presented to the Procedure Number: E9 2 supervisor. Further, male and female offenders should never be placed toge ther in a vehicle seat, unless a probation officer is positioned between them. GENERAL IN CUSTODY TRANSPORTATION PROCEDURES Offenders under arrest or being transported in cu stody shall be secured us ing handcuffs or belly chain handcuffs, and secured with additional restraints, when necessary, pursuant to Probation Officer Procedures Sections E3 and F2. Offenders are never to be handcuffed to or in any way connected to the ve hicle so that emergency removal is inhibited. The most direct route shall be taken when transporting offenders in custody. There should be no side trips or stops, except for fuel, meals when approved, or emergency repairs. If it becomes necessary for the probation officer to leave the of fender in the vehicle, the offender must remain within direct view of the proba tion officer at all times, and th e temperature inside the vehicle shall be appropriate for the season. When necessa ry, a probation officer transporting an offender in custody has the discretion to make telephone calls at the time of departure, the time of arrival at the destination and at the times of any stops along the wa y (both when the officer stops and when he/she resumes the transport). These telep hone calls may be made to the Juvenile Hall or JTC, or local law enforcement dispatch, dependi ng on the officer’s worksite, and should include the officer’s mileage. GENERAL OUT OF CUSTODY TRANSPORTATION PROCEDURES Offenders not in custody should be transported without the use of restraints unless there is some compelling reason to use restraints. Supervisory approval is required if restraining an out of custody offender is deemed necessary. Further, the most direct route shall be taken when transporting offenders not in custody. SCHEDULING PUBLIC TRANSPORTAT ION OF IN CUSTODY MINORS When the transportation of a minor necessitates the need to utilize alternative methods of transport (i.e. airline, bus, train), the pr obation officer must obtain prior supervisory appr oval. A written memo detailing the minor’s full name and date of birt h, circumstances of the case, the specific travel needs being requested, and the agency