Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 004 - DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS › Rule 004.00.92-003 - Transporting/Escorting Inmates

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
404
		  Transporting/Escorting Inmates
I.
AUTHORITY
:
The authority of the Board of Correction to promulgate this
			 Administrative Regulation is confirmed in Act 50 of 1968, First Extraordinary
			 Session, as amended.
II.
PURPOSE
:
To describe policies and procedures used by the Department of
			 Correction when supervising inmates who require escorted transportation outside
			 the units/centers.
III.
APPLICABILITY
:
Wardens/center supervisors; security personnel; any employees
			 required to restrain, escort, and/or transport inmates in the performance of
			 their duties; and inmates.
IV.
DEFINITIONS
:
A.
Employees
:
		  Persons hired by the Department of Correction or contracted for
		  services.
B.
Inmates
: Offenders incarcerated within a Department of
		  Correction unit/center; offenders supervised by the Department of Correction
		  but housed elsewhere; and those offenders supervised by Field
		  Services.
C.
Restraints
: Security equipment used to prevent escape,
		  assault, or the commission of some other offense by violent or disruptive
		  inmate(s); and to protect employees, inmates, and other individuals.
V.
POLICY
:
It shall be the policy of the Department of Correction to ensure
			 secure procedures and safety precautions while escorting and/or transporting
			 inmates at all times.
VI.
PROCEDURES
:
A.
		  Situations
Department employees will use proper security procedures and
			 safety precautions when escorting and/or transporting inmates at all times
			 including but not limited to the following:
1. while being escorted and/or transported on
		  the unit/center;
2. transfer from
		  one unit/center to another;
3.
		  while being accompanied on out to court status;
4. while on off-the-unit/center
		  activities;
5. for inmates being
		  returned to a unit/center following escape, parole violations, or other
		  apprehension return situations; and/or
6. for any reason inmates must be escorted,
		  transported, or held for the good order and safety of the Department of
		  Correction.
B. Use of
		  Restraints
1. All inmates being transported
		  from one unit/center to another or being taken from and returned to a
		  unit/center must be handcuffed. A security belt and/or leg irons may also be
		  used to provide additional security. They may also be used while escorting
		  inmates if used for the good order and security of the department. Exceptions
		  to this policy may include:
a. inmates in
		  Class I-A and I-B status;
b.
		  inmates being transported to a work release unit/center;
c. inmates being transported to and from an
		  industry or construction job assignment;
d. inmates participating in the Regional
		  Maintenance Program;
e. inmates
		  participating in the Plasma Program;
f. inmates being transported to and from band
		  or choir engagements; and,
g.
		  inmates being transported to and from Inmate Panel engagements.
2. Handcuffs and/or other security
		  restraint devices employed are not to be removed until the inmate is delivered
		  to the receiving authority as specified by the unit warden/center
		  supervisor.
C. Number of
		  Escorts and Weapons while Transporting Inmates
1. Normally, two employees shall be assigned
		  to escort inmates in transfer, with at least one employee being armed.
		  Exceptions may be made by the unit warden/center supervisor to increase this
		  security escort policy. Employees accompanying inmates must be extremely alert,
		  especially in crowds, to guard against escape and/or the acquisition or use of
		  any type weapon by the inmate.
2.
		  At least one escorting employee must be female when transporting a female
		  inmate.
D. Escort
		  Instructions
1. Escorting employees shall be
		  provided with a copy of the first page of the admission summary and a gate pass
		  or transfer. Exceptions: Emergency medical transfers will be handled with gate
		  passes only.
2. When accompanying
		  inmates to court, employees are to contact the sheriff or bailiff, chief of
		  police, or U.S. Marshal as soon as they arrive and receive orders for
		  subsequent proceedings.
3. Should
		  the judge order the inmate remanded to a jail to await further action,
		  escorting employees are to obtain a copy of the Court Order, if possible.
		  Before turning an inmate over to officials, one of the escorting employees will
		  make either telephone or radio contact with the unit warden/center supervisor
		  for instructions. Employees will secure a receipt from the sheriff, chief of
		  police or U.S. Marshal when the inmate is turned over to them.
4. If overnight travel is necessary, it is
		  permissible for the escorting employees to spend the night in a city or town
		  where the inmate may be confined to a secure jail. Upon release from such
		  temporary confinement, the inmate shall be thoroughly searched for contraband
		  by Department employees.
Inmates being accompanied on off the unit trips are not permitted
			 visits, except for attorney/client consultations on order of the court or as
			 approved by the warden/center supervisor.
Board of Correction Approval Date: 2/27/92
Attorney General Review Date: 27-27/9 2
Date Filed Secy, of State: 2/28/92
Supersedes: AR 404
Dated: 10/18/88