RESTRAINTS DURING TRANSPORT D-235 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: USE OF RESTRAINTS DURING INMATE TRANSPORTATION NO: D-235
FILE: RESTRAINTS DURING TRANSPORT
EFFECTIVE DATE: 08-06-90 REVISED: 11-04-91, 10-01-93, 12-25-94, 02-01-98,
01-01-00, 02-01-02, 10-01-09, 10-01-13
AUTHORITY: Sheriff M. Mims APPROVED BY: Assistant Sheriff T. Gattie
REFERENCE: California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Section 1029(a)(4); and
Penal Code Sections 3407 and 6030(f).
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this policy to establish and maintain a procedure for the use of restraints
upon inmates who are in custody and being transported.
POLICY:
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that inmates shall be
placed into restraints for purposes of routine transportation only as described in this policy.
PROCEDURES:
I. USE OF RESTRAINTS WHEN TRANSPORTING INMATES
A. All inmates transported outside the facilities shall be mechanically
restrained, with the exception of the routine transportation of inmate
workers. Transporting officers may utilize any mechanical restraint device
approved by the Fresno County Sheriff's Office when transporting an
inmate.
B. With limited exceptions, handcuffs and shackles shall be applied to all
inmates (refer to Section I I I for exceptions). Waist chains are available in
the Booking and 1st Floor Security Stations and should be applied
whenever possible.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: USE OF RESTRAINTS DURING INMATE TRANSPORTATION NO: D-235
FILE: RESTRAINTS DURING TRANSPORT
II. APPLICATION OF RESTRAINTS
A. Handcuffs shall be applied behind the back of the inmate with the palms of
the hands facing away from each other. The handcuff should be snug
against the inmate's wrists, but not so tight as to stop the blood circulation
or injure the wrist. Refer also to policy and procedure Section D-230/Use
of Restraints for more detailed directions in placing restraints.
B. Staff members shall double lock all restraints when they are applied.
Double locking prevents further tightening of the restraints.
C. When facility-assigned sets of handcuffs and/or shackles are used to
transport an inmate, the officer who removes the restraints shall be
responsible to return them to the proper location.
III. EXCEPTIONS TO THE RESTRAINT POLICY
A. The use of mechanical restraints on inmates confirmed, or suspected by
medical staff to be pregnant shall be subject to the following requirements-
1. No leg restraints or waist chains shall be applied.
2. When transporting a pregnant inmate outside the facility, the
application of restraints shall be restricted to handcuffs to the front of
the inmate only. If the pregnant inmate is in labor, the directive
provided in subsection III(B) shall also be followed.
B. Mechanical restraints shall not be placed on an inmate during labor,
including during transport to the hospital, during delivery, and while in
recovery after giving birth, unless circumstances exist that require the
immediate application of mechanical restraints to avoid the imminent
threat of death, escape, or great bodily injury, and only for the period
during which such threat exists.
1. Restraints shall be removed when a professional who is currently
responsible for the medical care of a pregnant inmate during a
medical emergency, labor, delivery, or recovery after delivery
determines that the removal of restraints is medically necessary.
2. The straps utilized by ambulance personnel are for the safety of the
patient during transportation and are not subject to restriction for the
purpose of this policy.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: USE OF RESTRAINTS DURING INMATE TRANSPORTATION NO: D-235
FILE: RESTRAINTS DURING TRANSPORT
C. Very obese individuals shall have their hands cuffed in front of their bodies
(if the use of handcuffs is possible). At the very least, shackles shall be
applied.
D. Inmates with a cast, bandage, or obvious serious injury to their extremities
that makes handcuffing impossible shall be shackled.
E. Inmates on crutches shall be handcuffed to one crutch. If feasible or
deemed necessary, transfer(and handcuff)the inmate to a wheelchair as
soon as possible.
F. Inmates confined to wheelchairs shall be handcuffed to the wheelchair.
G. High security inmates shall be transported with handcuffs, shackles and
waist chain during ALL movement.
H. Although the routine transportation of inmate workers does not require that
they be mechanically restrained, handcuffs and shackles shall be applied if
they are transported to the hospital or court.
IV. ESCAPE PREVENTION
Although mechanical restraint devices greatly assist in controlling inmates,the
devices should not be considered a guarantee against inmate assault, nor
should they be considered a guarantee against inmate escape. The devices
are no substitution for vigilance and attention to duty on the part of Sheriff's
personnel.
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