Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
1 4.19 Prisoner Transportation: Transport Operations
4.19.12 Absentia Booking (Revised : 2/6/25 )
This order describes officer ’s duties and responsibilities when transporting and admitting an
arrestee , in absentia , into the San Francisco County Jail , at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH)
or another medical facitliy .
A. An officer transporting an arrestee to SFGH or another medical facility is responsible for
the arrestee until that arrestee:
1. Has been b ooked i nto a District Station or the County Jail or
2. All of the following are true :
a. For adult arrestees
(1) The arrestee was admit ted by the physician -in-charge .
(2) A Field Arrest Card (prisoner housing card) has been completed and
any relevant prisoner property, including clothing and money, has
been delivered to the County Jail .
(3) The arrestee has been booked and the officer relieved by a Sheriff’s
Department deputy .
b. For juvenile arrestees :
(1) The arrestee was admit ted by the physician -in-charge .
(2) An admission card has been completed and delivered to the person
in charge at the Youth Guidance Center (YGC).
(2) The person in charge at the YGC has been contacted to determine
whether the arrestee should be booked and, if so , the officer was
relieved by a YGC counselor .
B. The San Francisco Sheriff ’s Department does not accept custo dy of prisoners who are in
the emergency room or in the surgery or recovery wards of SFGH.
C. Officers shall take reasonable steps to e nsure that prisoners are under control and the
attending staff is protected from potential prisoner violence. Handcuffs or other restraints
may be used when a prisoner exhibits a propensity for violence or escape. The use of
restraints shall be determined by the prisoner's demeanor and action s.
D. Officers should station themselves outside the trea tment room unless requested to remain
with the prisoner by the attending medical staff.
E. For less extensive treatment s, officers shall deci de, after consultation with the attending
medical staff, whether it is reasonable t o accompany the prisoner into the treatment rooms
or to station themselves outside.
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
2 F. Officers shall take reasonable steps to maintain vis ual contact with the prisoner. If the
treatment room has more than one exit door, an officer shall be positioned at each exit to
prevent escape.
G. Officers shall accompany the prisoner to and from the X -ray room and take reasonable
steps to position themselves in a manner that allows them to maintain visual contact with
the prisoner . If the X -ray room has more than one exit door , an officer shall be positioned
at each exit door to prevent escape.
H. If the prisoner has not been admitted to the hospi tal prior to surgery, officers shou ld attempt
to have the prisoner admitted and obta in the Sheriff’s assistance. In the case of emergency
surgery before admission t o the hospital, officers shall position themselves outside the
operating room, maki ng sure each exit door is guarded.
I. Visitors shall not be allowed in any treatment ar ea or be allowed to interact with prisoners.
J. Absentia Booking Duties
1. If the SFGH physician -in-charge decides to admit an adult arrestee, the officer shall
follow these procedures:
a. Complete a Field Arrest Card (prisoner housing card) and deliver it to the
County Jail. If the prisoner has personal property, deliver it to the County
Jail along with the Field Arrest Card.
b. Call Ward 7D (medical) or Ward 7L (psychiatric) to determine if the
absentia booking has been completed and, i f confirmed , take the prisoner to
the ward and wait to be formally relieved .
c. If the prisoner is admitted to a ward other than Ward 7D or 7L, notify the
Watch Commander at Ward 7D, so a deputy sheriff can be sent to reli eve
the UCPD officer .
d. Notify the Investigations Unit of the absentia booking.
2. If the prisoner being admitted to SFGH is a juvenile , the officer shall :
a. Contact the person in charge at the YGC to determine whether the juvenile
should be booked. If cause for booking exists, the YGC will immediately
send a counselor to the hospital to relieve the officer
b. Complete an admission form and, a fter being relieved by the counselor, take
the completed form to YGC and leave it with the person in charge
c. Notify the Investigations Unit of the absentia booking.
3. If the prisoner is admitted into a medical fac ility other than SFGH, the officer shall
notify the Sheriff ’s Department and follow the procdures for adult or juvenile
absentia bookings outlined above .