Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
4.20 Prisoner Transportation: Special Transport Situations
4.20.3 Transporting Sick or Injured Prisoners (Revised: 2/22/08)
A. Any prisoner who has sustained an injury that warrants medical attention during an arrest
will not be transported to the County Jail unless field clearance is received by San
Francisco EMS.
B. The prisoner may be taken to and offered treatment at SFGH be fore being transported to
the County Jail if necessary. If the prisoner refuses treatment, a copy of the refusal form
will be obtained from the hospital by the officer. The original will be given to the County
Jail triage nurse. This information will be do cumented in the officer’s arrest report.
Consideration should be given to releasing the prisoner in the field if possible.
C. Any prisoner who has or has potentially sustained a substantial injury during an arrest
shall be transported by ambulance to the SFGH Emergency Room. When a prisoner is
transported to a medical facility and is admitted to the facility by the attending phys ician,
the officer will immediately notify the Watch Commander and utilize the following
procedures to ensure control of the detainee.
1. Have the detainee released from custody, if possible and appropriate.
2. If the detainee has to remain in police custo dy, the medical personnel should be
requested to put the detainee in a private room, if available, and/or booked in
absentia (refer to General Order 4.19.12, “Absentia Booking”).
3. The detainee should be observed at all times and normal restraining device s
utilized. Officers should consult with medical personnel in reference to the best
utilization of restraining devices.
D. The same procedures covered in Section C, apply to the commitment of mentally
disturbed persons, with the exception that officers ma y be relieved when the subject has
completed the intake process and is turned over to the facility staff.
E. All officers involved in the arrest of a suspect who sustains an injury will submit a police
report detailing the circumstances of the incident. R eports will be completed by the
involved officers prior to the end of their tour of duty.
F. The Watch Commander will attempt to photograph any injuries of the prisoner and obtain
a statement from the prisoner and any witnesses.