The following are established rules and procedures for the transportation of prisoners which will provide for the safety and security of the transporting officer(s), prisoner(s) and the public.

Transport Vehicles:

Only those department vehicles which have been equipped with a safety barrier between the front and rear compartments and modified to minimize unassisted prisoner exit from the rear compartment including removal of rear door handles and window cranks may be used for prisoner transportation.

Transport Vehicle Searches:

  • Any vehicle whose use throughout any tour may include prisoner transport must be searched and examined at the beginning of each shift prior to such use. (See General Order 442.10: Inventory and Inspection)
  • All vehicles used for prisoner transport must be searched prior to and after transporting prisoners. Most vehicles will not have been under continuous control and this search is conducted to preclude the introduction of weapons, contraband or other items.

Prisoner Searches:

(See General Order 409.08: Physical Searches)

Anytime an officer arrests or otherwise receives someone in custody who is to be transported, it is the responsibility of the transporting officer(s) to field search the subject(s) for weapons and/or contraband prior to being transported. This search shall include determination of the contents of all pockets and clothing articles as well as purses, backpacks and bags. Items such as purses and baggage shall not be left in the passengers compartment with the prisoner during transport but should be kept in the drivers compartment or trunk of the transport vehicle.

When it is necessary to conduct searches of prisoners of the opposite sex, officers should obtain the assistance of an officer of the same sex or perform the search in the company of another officer.

Officer and Prisoner Seating in Transport:

  • When transport of prisoners is to be accomplished by patrol vehicles with the safety barrier installed, the transporting officer(s) will occupy the front compartment of the vehicle. Prisoner(s) will be seated in the rear compartment. Seat belts will be in place whenever possible.
  • Department vehicles not equipped with the safety barrier and which are staffed by one officer will not be used for prisoner transportation.

En route:

  • During the transport process, officers will not lose sight of prisoners. One exception to this requirement may be exercised if it becomes necessary for a prisoner to make use of toilet facilities in unusual transport situations. This may be allowed only after the transporting officer(s) establish that adequate security can be maintained.
  • An officer transporting a prisoner has the primary responsibility of the safe delivery of the prisoner(s) and therefore a transport should not be interrupted to render police services. One permissible exception is the existence of a situation where there is grave and imminent danger to third parties and assistance is immediately required and can be rendered with minimum risk to all parties. Any such interruption requires the transporting officer to notify the Ramsey County Emergency Communication Center (RCECC) as to the location and nature of the activity.
  • Due to concerns for providing security and safety to the public, the prisoner, and the transporting officer, a prisoner is not to be allowed to communicate with anyone while being transported.

Restraint of Prisoners During Transport:

  • Except for discretionary situations in the movement of sick, injured, impaired or handicapped persons, prisoners are to be restrained during transport. Normally this will be accomplished by handcuffing the prisoner behind the back. The transporting officer, however, may at their discretion, handcuff persons in the front in certain situations such as:

     o   Elderly or frail persons arrested for minor offenses.

     o   Juveniles arrested for minor offenses.

     o   Women in advanced stages of pregnancy.

     o   Other physical disability where a prisoner would be injured if handcuffed behind the back.

If officers know or reasonably believe that medical circumstances make it unreasonable to handcuff an individual, officers should refrain from handcuffing.

Leg Restraints are authorized for officers who have received department approved training and when they reasonably believe that a higher level of restraint is required beyond handcuffing:

  1. To protect the subject from self-injurious behavior (ie. The subject is hitting their head against he interior of the squad car or other objects or attempts to run away in handcuffs).
  2. To protect the officers from harm (ie. The subject continues to attempt to hit, kick or use other physical force to prevent detention).
  3. To prevent destruction of property (ie. The subject attempts to damage interior of squad car by kicking doors, windows, etc...).

(See General Order 246.02 Authorized Force Tools, Description, Training Requirements, Uses and Considerations.)

Special Transport Situations:

  1. If transporting a prisoner of the opposite sex, the officer will notify the dispatcher of her/his/their location and mileage at the beginning and end of any transport and also at any stop and resumption in between (for example: for identification purposes by victim at crime scene).
  2. Transport of persons who officers know or reasonably believe are physically disabled or persons in crisis (PIC) usually indicates the employment of special care and attention. Consideration for the safety of everyone, including the officer(s) remains paramount in these situations. If an officer determines an ambulance is the safest means of transport they should contact St. Paul Fire for assistance.
  3. If the receiving facility needs to make any reasonable accommodations, the transporting officer will provide as much advance notice as possible.

Guidelines:

Physically disabled prisoners who require the use of a wheel chair or who wear prosthetic devices may be transported in police squads if the transporting officer is satisfied that it can be done safely. Wheel chairs or crutches may accompany the prisoner if they can be accommodated in the trunk of the police vehicle. Not all physically disabled prisoners will require restraint but it must not be assumed that restraint is never required. Transporting officers must make the decision regarding choice of vehicle and use of restraints based on the known or reasonably believed circumstances. Whatever restraining device, or combination thereof, is utilized it must be reasonable and should not interfere with the prisoners ability to balance or protect themselves during transport. All handicapped prisoners should be seat-belted in unless the handicap or prosthetic device precludes this.

Factors to be considered when determining whether or not to restrain are: criminal history of the prisoner, current and past demeanor, propensity/ability to interfere, escape, and/or impair the safety of the transport.

 Where immobility or other serious impediment exists, officers may request an ambulance for the transport. In these instances, fire department personnel will determine how the prisoner will be restrained. The paramedic unit will be accompanied by an officer to the detention facility.

Upon occasion, a prisoner will be sick or injured incidental to arrest. In these instances the responding officer must render first-aid and evaluate the seriousness of the condition. Their assessment will determine whether they will transport or request an ambulance. If the sickness or injury appears to be of a serious nature, an ambulance should be requested. If the responding officer is unable to evaluate the seriousness of the prisoners illness or injury or is uncertain whether the prisoners condition would be aggravated by transport in a police vehicle, the officer should request an ambulance. The fire captain aboard the responding unit will determine the transport vehicle arrangement after examining the prisoner and rendering aid. In either case the restraining of the prisoner will be in a manner consistent with her/his injury and the conditions of the arrest, gravity of the offense, demeanor and history of the prisoner.

Escape:

1.      If a prisoner should escape while being transported, the transporting officer(s) will:

2.      Immediately notify the RCECC by radio and provide at least the following information:

  • The location of the escape and the last known direction of travel.
  • A complete physical description of the escapee(s) including clothing.
  • The reason the escaped person(s) was/were in custody and an assessment of the potential danger the escapee(s) presents to the public particularly in the immediate area.
  • Summon necessary aid if escape was incidental to another event, e.g., accident.

3.      If practical, the transporting officer(s) will pursue and make every attempt to apprehend the suspect.

4.      Prepare a report detailing the circumstances of the escape.

5.      Notify their immediate supervisor and the watch commander.

6.      If an escape occurs in another jurisdiction the above data will be provided to the law enforcement authorities in that jurisdiction in the most expeditious manner.

Guidelines for Other Inter-Facility Transportation of Prisoners and Victims:

  • Health facility to health facility: Transporting patients from one health facility to another is not the responsibility of the Saint Paul Police Department.
  • Shelter homes and juvenile detention center: The transportation of juveniles from shelter homes to the juvenile detention center is not our responsibility unless the juvenile is being arrested by someone at the shelter home for an offense committed there or upon warrant. In this case appropriate reports and detention forms are completed.
  • Conversely, our policy is not to transport juveniles from the juvenile detention center to shelter homes.
  • [Redacted]and shelter homes: Children transported from [Redacted] to shelter homes by our department personnel are the result of a case in our jurisdiction only. We do not transport children who are the subject of an offense in a different jurisdiction.
  • In all cases where we transport a juvenile to a shelter home, foster home, or detention facility, a juvenile detention form must be completed and a report written.

Updated February 1, 2019

Last Edited: March 4, 2019