Policy Text
Revisions or additions are highlighted 1 (12/18/2024 ) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: TRANSPORTING AND BOOKING PRISONERS
Index as: Booking Procedure Prisoner
Detainee Prisoners, Transporting and Booking
Escape During Transport Service Animal
Interview of Detainees Spit Hood
Medical Aid Transporting Detainees (Prisoners)
Medical Distress
Accreditation Standards: 1.2.6, 1.2.7, 4.1.5, 70.1.1, 70.1.2, 70.1.3, 70.1.4, 70.1.5, 70.1.6, 70.1.7, 70.2.1, 70.3.1,
70.4.1, 70.4.2, 71.3.1 CFA 21.01, 29.01
Cross Reference: G.O. II -44, Taser Energy Weapon
G.O. III -06, Juvenile Procedures
G.O. III -14, Property and Evidence
G.O. III -20, Hospital Procedures
G.O. III -25, Search of Persons
G.O. III -28, Use of Interview and Interrogation Rooms
G.O. III -40 Mobile Video Recording Systems (MVRS)
I.O. V.5: 01, Persons Suffering from Mental Illness
I.O. V.5:22, Infectious Diseases and Exposure Control Plan
§§ 901.22, 985.101 , Florida Statutes
Replaces : G.O. III -10, Transport ing and Booking Prisoners ( July 21, 2023 )
This Order consist s of the following sections:
I. Policy
II. Definitions
III. Searching and Securing Prisoners for Transport
IV. Transporting Prisoners
V. Interviewing Prisoners at Headquarters
VI. Special Transport Situations
VII. Delivery of Prisoners to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office ( PCSO ) Intake
VIII. Escapes/Criminal Acts During Transport
I. POLICY
Transporting prisoners is a potentially dangerous function. Therefore, it is the policy of the St. Petersburg Police
Department to take all necessary precautions , while transporting prisoners , to protect the lives and safety of officer s,
the public , and the person(s) in custody.
DATE OF
ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER
April 2016 Immediately III-10
Distribution: All Employees
General Order III -10
Revisions or additions are highlighted 2 (12/18/2024 ) II. DEFINITIONS
A. Detainee – A person who is in the custody of agency personnel and whose freedom of movement is at the will of
agency personnel.
B. Prisoner – A detainee who is physically under arrest.
C. Spit Hood – A protective device that fits over the head of an individual to help prevent the transfer of spittle from
one person to another.
III. SEARCHING AND SECURING PRISONERS FOR TRANSPORT
A. Vehicles
1. All police vehicles (marked, unmarked , and the prisoner transport vans [PTV]), which may be used to transport
arrested persons, will be inspected at the beginning of the shift for weapons, contraband, etc., prior to use, to
ensure nothing has been hidden or left behind.
2. Whenever possible and with due regard for officer safety, the vehicle operator will also conduct a search prior
to placing a prisoner in the vehicle to ensure nothing has been placed in the vehicle when it was out of the
immediate control of the operator.
3. In all cases, the officer will search the prisoner area of the transporting vehicle as soon as possible following
every transport, after removing the person, but prior to moving the vehicle.
a. The search should include, when possible, the removal of the rear seat, and inspection of any other area
where a person may have had access.
b. Officer s who find contraband or narcotics upon checking the vehicle will determine:
1) If the prisoner had possession while within the City . If so, the officer should charge the person with the
appropriate violation; or
2) If the items can be attributed to a specific prisoner . If they cannot, the items will be turned into the
Property and Evidence Unit along with the appropriate report, designating the item for des truction.
B. Contact with Prisoners
1. Officer s should consider universal precautions during contact with prisoners. Extreme caution should be used
during searches to prevent exposure to infectious diseases. (See I.O. V5 -22, Infectious Diseases and Exposure
Control Plan ).
2. Incident to arrest, the officer taking the perso n into custody will, as soon as possible, conduct a thorough search
of the person for weapons or other items which may be dangerous or offer a security threat (handcuff keys,
etc.), paying particular attention to pockets, cuffs, collars, and any other plac e a weapon may be concealed.
a. If custody and control of the prisoner are turned over to another officer , the second officer will assume
responsibility to ensure a search of the prisoner is conducted prior to transport.
b. Officer s conducting a search, upon arrest or transfer of custody and control, will include details of the search
and list any items found in their report.
3. Prisoner searches will be conducted in accordance with G.O. III -25, Search of a Person .
4. Once the person is in