Policy Text
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW
1 01/24/2011 05/11/2022
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS
____________________
903 - Prisoner Transportation 1 POLICY 903 PRISONER TRANSPORTATION
903.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to establish standards and procedure for the transportation of
prisoners. Portions of this topic may be contained in other sections of this Manual.
903.1.1 ACCRED ITATION STANDARDS
This section pertains to the following CALEA Standards: 70.1.1 , 70.1.2 , 70.1.3 , 70.1.4 , 70.1.5 ,
70.1.6 , 70.1.7 , 70.1.8 , 70.2.1 , 70.3.1 , 70.3.2 , 70.3.3, 70.4.1, 70.5.1
This section pertains to the following Standard Operating Procedures: N/A
903.2 SEARCHING PRISONERS / DETAINEES
Officers who arrest or detain individuals must control the situation with the tools provided within
the law. Officers and jailers must stay well versed on the current status of the search of persons
and act wi thin the law.
a) Prior to detaining or transporting any individual in a police vehicle, officers or jailers shall
conduct an appropriate search of that individual for contraband or weapons ( Policy
Manual § 902.3 Pat -Down Search) ;
b) Each time a prisoner comes i nto the transporting officer’s or jailer’s custody, including
transfers from one patrol unit to another, the receiving transport officer must search the
prisoner .
903.2.1 SEARCH OF TRANSPORT VEHICLE
Officers and jailers involved in prisoner transportation must develop a routine of searching the
patrol or transport vehicle to assure prisoners do not have access to weapons or contraband. In
addition, a strict routine creates the ability of an officer or jailer to associate a found item of
contraband or weap on to a specific prisoner.
a) A patrol officer or jailer shall search the prisoner area of his/her vehicle at the beginning of
each shift and following the transportation of a prisoner .
b) Officers or jailers engaged in prisoner transportation shall search the transport vehicle
prior to loading any prisoner and search again following the removal of prisoners .
Weapons, con traband or personal property found in the prisoner compartment of a vehicle, shall
be booked into evidence and the appropriate report shall be completed.
Weapons and contraband found in the prisoner compartment of the vehicle shall be booked into
evidence and added to the original arrest report. Personal property found shall be booked into
safe-keeping and added to the original arrest report , if the owner cannot be determined. If
personal property is found prior to an officer’s or jailer’s shift or prior to prisoner transportation,
the officer or jailer shall notify the Watch Commander and complete a found property report. If
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW
1 01/24/2011 05/11/2022
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS
____________________
903 - Prisoner Transportation 2 contraband is found prior to an officer’s or jailer’s shift or prior to prisoner transportation, the
officer or jailer shall notify the Watch Commander and attempt to identify the source of the
contraband. If a source can be located, the contraband should be booked as eviden ce and a
supplemental report should be completed and added to the original arrest report. If a source
cannot be located, the contraband should be booked for destruction.
Officers or jailers involved in special or long -distance prisoner transportation shou ld inspect the
vehicle before use to assure it is safe and appropriately equipped for the mission.
903.3 PROCEDURES, TRANSPORTING BY VEHICLE
Officers or jailers should ensure the prisoner is as comfortable as practicable, given the length of
the trip bei ng made, and yet secure the prisoner to the maximum degree, under the
circumstances.
Officers or jailers shall handcuff and secure in the rear passenger compartment all prisoners
whom they transport in a patrol vehicle that has a security screen, unless c ircumstances are such
that handcuffing is clearly not practicable. In the rare situation w hen a solo officer transports a
prisoner in a vehicle without a security screen, the handcuffed prisoner should be seated in the
front passenger seat and securely fas tened with the seatbelt . Physically resistive or multiple
prisoners, should only be transported in vehicles equipped with a security screen .
Officers or jailers shall seatbelt prisoners, unless circumstances are such that seat belting is
clearly not pract icable. (Exemption permissible under CVC 27315(g)).
903.3.1 CONTROL OF PRISONERS DURING TRANSPORT
When transporting a prisoner(s), officers or jailers shall have visual contact with them.
Transporting officers shall not deviate from their route during the transportation of a prisoner,
unless an emergency arises. If an emergency does arise, the prisoner may be allowed to exit the
vehicle only in extreme situations and then only under close supervision and security. The
transporting officer or jailer must en sure the prisoner is secure, and under constant visual
observation.
Officers or jailers must take care to allow the prisoners reasonable opportunities to use toilet
facilities prior to