Policy Text
Court Security Division P age 1 of 3 2/06 (REV 6/11)
Duties: Transportation Officer
The purpose of this Operations Or der is to establish operationa l guidelines and
procedures for deputies assigned to the Short Haul Transportati on Unit.
I. Policy
A. The Court Security Division has responsibility of transporti ng inmates
between local custody facilities and the Gordon D. Schaber Cour thouse in
a safe and timely manner to attend legal proceedings. Every ef fort shall
be made to accommodate the needs and comfort of the inmates, ho wever,
at no time will such efforts j eopardize safety and security pro cedures.
1. The Main Jail Long Haul Trans portation Unit has responsibili ty for
transporting inmates from the Ma in Jail to the satellite facili ty
courthouses and from Juvenile H all to the Gordon D. Schaber
Courthouse.
II. Authority
A. Special licensing is required to operate heavy, multi-axel, multi-passenger
vehicles in California (§12804.9 CVC).
III. Required Training
A. All permanently assigned Shor t Haul Transportation officers shall obtain
and maintain a Class B Driver’s L icense and a current medical c ertificate.
IV. Security
A. Transportation officers shall be armed during the period whe n inmates are
secured within any Short Haul Transportation vehicle.
B. Transportation officers shall not be armed while in any security area of the
Main Jail or the Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse.
1. Firearms, impact weapons, and kn ives shall be secured in gun
lockers prior to loading or unloading inmates.
C. To prevent escape, absent unusual circumstances, inmates sho uld not be
loaded or unloaded into transportation vehicles unless the main sally port
gate is closed.
Court Security Division P age 2 of 3 2/06 (REV 6/11) D. Although short haul transporta tion vehicles may be equipped with
emergency lights and siren, the pr imary purpose of the vehicles is to
transport inmates between the Main Jail and the Gordon D. Schab er
Courthouse.
1. Except for potential life-thr eatening emergency situations, officers
shall refrain from becoming in volved in vehicle stops, pursuits , and
acting as a cover unit while act ively engaged in the transporta tion
of inmates.
E. Absent exigent circumstances , Short Haul Transportation Offi cers shall
not make any unnecessary or unsc heduled stops while actively en gaged
in the transportation of inmates.
F. No less than two office rs shall be present when transpo rting inmates.
V. Lead Transportation Officer
A. The lead Transportation Office r is rotated monthly among the officers
assigned to the Short H aul Transportation Unit.
B. The lead Transportation Of ficer is responsible for:
1. Reviewing the inmate cour t appearance list and organizing th e
transportation of these persons to the Gordon D. Schaber
Courthouse.
a. This procedure avoids cla ssification conflicts or other
problems which may result in court delays.
2. Directing the transportation of inmates to and from the Main Jail
throughout the day.
3. Performing a daily vehicle inspection of all transportation vehicles.
a. Court Security Operation Order 3/11
4. Searching the transportation vehicles for contraband before and
after transportation assignments.
VI. Transportation Crew
A. When not acting in the role o f lead Transportation Officer, the other
officers assigned to the Short H aul Transportation Unit will p erform the
following duties on a rotational basis:
1. Provide security during loadi ng and unloading of inmates.
2. Book court remands and arrestees.
Court Security Division P age 3 of 3 2/06 (REV 6/11) 3. Obtain inmate lunches from M ain Jail staff and deliver them to the
Court Holding Area(s).
4. Act as Holding Area Officer when not actively transporting i nmates.
VII. Activity Reports
A. As directed, Short Haul Tr ansportation Officers may be requ ired to
complete an Activity Report to l og the functions they perform .