Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
4.20 Prisoner Transportation: Special Transport Situations
4.20.2 Transporting Disabled Prisoners (Issued: 6/25/07)
Special attention and care shall be taken for the safety of the officer and the prisoner when
transporting individuals who are physically and/or mentally disabled.
A. Restraining devices shall be used on all disabled, injured or ill persons, unless the nature
of the disability is such that the transport poses no risk of escape, harm or injury to them,
other pr isoners or the transporting officer.
B. Restraining prisoners wearing prosthetic devices frequently requires ingenuity and a
concern for the safety of both the prisoner and the officer. A prisoner wearing a prosthetic
device must be thoroughly searched, i ncluding a search of the prosthetic device.
Handcuffs and leg restraints may be used to restrain prisoners wearing prosthetic devices.
C. Medicine, medicinal supplies, walking aids, prosthetic devices or any other such items
needing to accompany the prisoner during transport will be placed in an area of the
vehicle inaccessible to the prisoner.
D. If a prisoner becomes sick or injured during the transport, the transporting officer shall
seek medical attention at the first reasonable opportunity.
E. Mentally disturbed persons require special care when applying restraints and, if there is a
risk of prisoner injury, plastic “flex cuff” restraints may be used in place of traditional
handcuffs.
F. If a prisoner is physically and/or mentally disabled to a degree that the officer believes
the prisoner cannot be safely transported in a police vehicle, the officer shall contact the
Watch Commander. It may be possible to cite and release the prisoner in the field if
custody is not absolutely necessary. If cite and release is not an option for the prisoner,
the prisoner may be transported in an ambulance if accompanied by an officer.
G. If an arrestee is mobility impaired and cannot be transported in a patrol vehicle, the
officer should contact the ECC and requ est a paratransit taxi from the Yellow Cab
Company. One officer will be required to accompany the taxi driver during the transport.
A second officer should follow the taxi to provide backup and transportation following
booking.