07-000/01 Restraints

PURPOSE OF ORDER:     The purpose of this unit order is to establish procedures regarding the use of restraint systems.

SCOPE OF ORDER:          This order applies to all personnel assigned to and/or working at the North County Correctional Facility (NCCF).

ORDER:

SAFETY CHAIR

Refer to Custody Division Manual (CDM) 7-03/040.00 for safety chair procedures.

A roster of NCCF personnel trained in the use of the safety chair shall be posted on the watch crew’s web page of the NCCF intranet site. This roster shall be updated by the NCCF training staff.

Video files created when documenting the use of the safety chair shall be uploaded to the Digital Media Locker in the “Safety Chair” file folder. The file(s) shall be saved inside a folder created using this naming format (without the hyphens):

YYYY.MM – LAST NAME OF INMATE – BOOKING NUMBER

(e.g., 2016.03 HERNANDEZ 1234567)

CDM 7-03/040.00 requires for a reference number to be drawn and for the “Safety Chair: Inmate Security Check Log” to be used to document the use of the safety chair. This log is linked on the Inmate Processing Area (IPA’s) web page of the NCCF intranet site. Once completed, the log shall be forwarded to the operations office where it shall be entered into the appropriate database and then archived in the same file folder as the video file(s).

The un-resisted placement of an inmate into the Safety Chair for secured movement through the facility may not necessarily constitute a use of reportable force. However, if in the course of applying restraints, the inmate struggles or resists in any way, it does constitute a use of force and shall be reported in accordance with CDM, section 7-06/000.00, “Use of Force Reporting Procedures.”

MONITORING INMATES SECURED IN THE SAFETY CHAIR

The following criteria shall apply in each incident when an inmate is secured in the Safety Chair:

• The inmate shall remain in continual, direct visual contact at all times by the designated custody personnel

• At least twice every thirty (30) minutes, approximately fifteen (15) minutes apart, custody personnel shall check the inmate and document any comments regarding the health and physical condition of the inmate.  All components shall be physically checked to ensure they are properly secured and present no obvious physical signs of circulatory restrictions to the inmate’s extremities

• The maximum time an inmate shall be secured in the Safety Chair is two (2) hours, unless exigent circumstances require the need to keep the inmate secured in the Safety Chair.  Approval shall be obtained from a supervisor at the permanent rank of lieutenant or above, or on-duty watch commander, in consultation with medical staff, for any extension past the two (2) hours and every two (2) hour period thereafter. The reason for the extension shall be noted in the Inmate Safety Chair Security Check Log (SH-R-637)

• The medical opinion as to whether the inmate shall remain in the Safety Chair shall take precedence over the custody evaluation

• All observations and actions taken shall be documented on the Inmate Safety Chair Security Check Log (SH-R-637)

• If observations indicate that the inmate is and has been calm for a minimum of thirty (30) minutes, a supervisor at the permanent rank of sergeant or above shall be summoned to observe the inmate and make the determination if the inmate should be removed from the Safety Chair

• Medical assistance shall be summoned immediately whenever an inmate appears to be experiencing medical distress or complains of difficulty breathing.

If an inmate is held in the Safety Chair for a two (2) hour period, then it is required that the inmate be removed from the Safety Chair for a minimum of thirty (30) minutes prior to any subsequent application (unless exigent circumstances apply as noted above).  Inmates secured in the Safety Chair shall not be denied food, water or beverages, prescribed medications, or access to a bathroom unless there is substantial cause to do so and the watch commander has been notified and has obtained the concurrence of available medical staff.

WAIST-CHAIN PROCEDURES

Refer to CDM section 7-03/010.00 for waist-chain procedures. Refer to NCCF unit order (UO) 07-044/10 for cleaning, maintenance, and accountability of waist chains.

HANDCUFF COVER SYSTEM

For inmates who are being transported to court, the use of the handcuff cover restraint system is restricted to those who have an “A” classification (Refer to CDM section 5-01/030.00, “Inmate Classification and Identification”). The handcuff cover restraint system can also be used on other inmates during inter-facility transfers and facility-to-facility movement without the “A” classification.

To help track the handcuff covers, personnel assigned to the area in which handcuff cover restraint systems have been issued shall log the amount of handcuff cover systems present in the “Unit Specific Information” section of the electronic Uniform Daily Activity Log (e-UDAL) at the beginning of their shift. This entry shall include the item number of any handcuff cover systems which may be missing and unaccounted for. Any discrepancies shall be reported to the 900 supervising line deputy. If a handcuff cover system from another unit is found, the 900 supervising line deputy shall coordinate the return of the handcuff cover system as soon as possible.

Officers who have inmates from their area of responsibility being transferred/transported with a handcuff cover system, shall log the time, inmate’s name, booking number, destination, and handcuff cover number in the “Unit Specific Information” section of the e-UDAL. The return of the handcuff cover systems shall also be logged in the e-UDAL by noting the time and handcuff cover system number.

OTHER RESTRAINTS

For any restraint device not mentioned in this UO, refer to those Manual of Policy and Procedures (MPP), CDM, and UO sections pertaining to those restraint devices.