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AE 02 Restraints

Last modified by Ryan Larkin on 2022/03/01 17:47

Washington County Sheriff's Office

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION

Policy Manual

Volume: AE

Use of Force

Chapter: 02

Restraints

Replaces and/or Supersedes:

PJ 45

Published:

09/06/2011

Review Date:

03/01/2022

Sheriff Nate Brooksby

Undersheriff Barry Golding

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AE 02_101  Definitions

AE 02_102  References

AE 02_103  General

AE 02_104  Outside Secure Perimeter

AE 02_105  Pregnant Prisoner

AE 02_106  Restraint Chair

AE 02_107  Crisis Intervention

AE 02_108  Documentation

AE 02_101  DEFINITIONS

  1. WCSO:  Washington County Sheriff's Office
  2. PCF:  Purgatory Correctional Facility
  3. Restraint:  Any device or mechanism that physically controls or limits ordinary movement or range of motion.
  4. Restraint Chair:  A chair-like, full-body restraining device.
  5. Restraint Device: Any atypical restraint mechanism, such as the restraint chair, backboard, etc.
  6. Shackles:  A set of restraints consisting of hand restraints attached to a chain or belt wrapped around a prisoner's waist and locked behind the prisoner's back and leg restraints.
  7. Hard and Soft Restraints:  “Hard” and “soft” restraints refer to the type of material that comes in contact with the prisoner. For example, handcuffs would be considered hard restraints; a leather belt shackle would be considered a soft restraint.

AE 02_102  REFERENCES

  1. Utah Counties Insurance Pool:
    1. ML-V.A.1.

AE 02_103  GENERAL

  1. Policy:
    1. Restraints may be used as a:
      1. Precautionary measure (e.g., handcuffing a cooperative prisoner during transportation); or
      2. Control option in conjunction with a use of force event (e.g., controlling a physically violent prisoner).
    2. Soft restraints instead of hard restraints should be used when available and feasible.
    3. Determination of the type and application of restraints used shall be according to officer discretion and consistent with the involved officers' training.
    4. Use of force options performed shall be consistent with the involved officers' training and policy: AE 01 Use of Force.
    5. Prisoners in restraints should be supervised at all times. Prisoners should not be left unattended while in restraints unless observation can be done remotely (i.e., video surveillance).
    6. Medical staff shall:
      1. Provide guidance concerning any health concerns;
      2. Observe for indications of distress (e.g., positional asphyxia);
      3. Make, at a minimum, checks on the prisoner’s well-being every fifteen minutes when significant restraint devices are used (e.g., back board, restraint chair);
      4. Make recommendations for discontinuing the use of a restraint device, when necessary; and
      5. Conduct an evaluation on each prisoner against whom force was used.
    7. During extended periods of restraint, prisoners should be permitted to use toilet facilities.
    8. If a prisoner is restrained for more than an hour, the prisoner should be permitted to stretch his/her muscles.
  2. Rationale:
    1. Use of restraints may reduce the potential of escape.
    2. Use of restraints may increase the margin of safety.
    3. Use of soft restraints may decrease the risk or magnitude of injury to the prisoner.
    4. The possible scenarios and related factors that could exist with a use of force or restraint device application are too numerous to detail in entirety. Furthermore, officers receive extensive training in order to make sound decisions.
    5. When used in conjunction with a use of force event, use of restraints may increase control of a disorderly prisoner, reduce the potential of property damage, and may decrease the risks of injury to the prisoner and staff.
    6. Use of restraints should be as humane as possible.
    7. Restriction of body movement for extended periods of time could create medical concerns.

AE 02_104  OUTSIDE SECURE PERIMETER

  1. Policy:
    1. Prisoners shall be placed in shackles when outside the secure perimeter of PCF, unless otherwise authorized.
    2. Shackles shall be used on all prisoners during transportation events that occur after initial admission to PCF; except for prisoners participating in an approved Community Release program.
    3. Shackles should be used on all prisoners during court sessions; unless otherwise specified by the presiding judge.
    4. At a minimum and when feasible, prisoners in custody at a hospital shall:
      1. Wear leg restraints; and
      2. Be securely attached to the hospital bed.
    5. When it is not feasible for the prisoner to be restrained by the usual methods, as indicated above, the supervising officer shall attempt to restrain the prisoner and minimize the risk of escape by other means (e.g., use of non-metal restraints, relocation to a more secure room, etc.).
  2. Rationale:
    1. Shackles provide greater control against prisoner escape and/or misbehavior.
    2. Types of restraints used in a hospital environment may be limited due to the specific location within the hospital, the condition of the prisoner, and/or the testing/care being conducted.

AE 02_105  PREGNANT PRISONER

  1. Policy:
    1. Pregnant inmates shall be handcuffed in front of their body instead of behind.
    2. Pregnant inmates during labor or the postpartum recovery period should not be shackled.
    3. Circumstances related to medical procedures may require removal of restraints to allow the medical provider to adequately examine, assess, or treat the inmate.
    4. Female inmates should not be shackled during delivery or during labor. Neither should the inmate be shackled if the doctor states the restraints would be a health risk to the inmate or the unborn child.
    5. In the event of conflicts between security needs and medical protocols transportation officers should contact WCSO administration for instructions.
  2. Rationale:
    1. If a prisoner falls forward, being handcuffed in front will allow the prisoner's hands to be used to break the prisoner's fall.

AE 02_106  RESTRAINT DEVICES

  1. Policy:
    1. If medical staff are not on-duty, the use of a restraint devices should be limited to significant (and documented) necessity and a temporary time frame.
  2. Rationale:
    1. Use of a restraint device may increase medical concerns for the prisoner and should be monitored closely by medical staff.

AE 02_107  CRISIS INTERVENTION

  1. Policy:
    1. PCF Medical staff should offer crisis intervention assistance to PCF-incarcerated prisoners during and/or after the use of a restraints in conjunction with use of force events.
  2. Rationale:
    1. Prisoners whose actions require the use of restraint devices may be acting out as a result of mental illness, personality disorders, or other emotional problems which require mental health intervention.

AE 02_108  DOCUMENTATION

  1. Policy:
    1. Precautionary uses of restraints may be (but are not required to be) documented in the jail computer system. However, precautionary events with an atypical factor should be documented.
    2. Use of force events involving the use of restraints shall be documented in the jail computer system. All jail use of force events shall be documented as a jail incident.
    3. Use of force applications of restraints shall be video recorded whenever reasonably possible.
  2. Rationale:
    1. Precautionary uses of restraint devices are a standard practice for many routine tasks; thus, documentation of each use would create a significant and time consuming burden upon staff.
    2. Proper documentation memorializes events and may aid in answering litigation.