Body
Policy: Prisoner
Author: Chief Joseph M. Hallman
WILEAG Standard: 7.1.1
Issue Date: March 29, 2013
Reviewed Date: April 2, 2026
Revised Date: April 2, 2026
Purpose:
The purpose of this document is to identify department guidelines to be followed when transporting and handling prisoners and detainees.
Policy:
When dealing with prisoners and detainees, officer and prisoner safety is paramount. Prisoners and detainees should, except under specified circumstances, be handcuffed and searched prior to transport. (7.1.1) The prisoner should be transported in a police vehicle equipped with a prisoner cage whenever possible. Officers will follow the booking procedures covered in this policy
Definitions:
- Arrest- The taking custody or detaining of a person by word or action so as to subject his or her liberty to the actual control and will of the person making the arrest for a Law or Wisconsin UWS Chapter 18 violation.
- Prisoner- Any person taken into custody either physically or verbally for a legal reason. For the purposes of this policy prisoner will also refer to detainees.
- Cursory Search- This is a pat down search of a person taken into custody for the purpose of finding weapons or items that could be used as weapons so that the officer’s safety is enhanced.
Procedures:
- Handcuffing
- All prisoners shall be handcuffed behind the back with the following exceptions:
- Alternate measures may be used with a juvenile, elderly, handicapped or injured person after considering the seriousness of the offense, the likelihood of escape and the potential threat to the officer prior to handcuffing the person.
- Prisoners may be handcuffed in front of their body in conjunction with a properly fitted restraint belt.
- Prisoners may also be restrained if they are violent or pose the threat of violence by being shackled to an ambulance cot with arm and leg restraints in accordance with EMS or medical facility policies.
- Violent prisoners, mentally disturbed individuals, or prisoners who will be transported by vehicle for an extended period of time, may necessitate the use of waist belt cuffs or ankle restraints.
- Prisoners shall not be handcuffed to any part of a moving vehicle.
- Searches (7.1.1)
- Every prisoner shall be searched. Evidence, contraband, or any item or substance which could potentially cause harm to the officer, the arrestee, or a third party shall be seized. This shall occur prior to placing the arrestee in any police vehicle or facility. Officers will also inspect the vehicle and facility to ensure that no potentially harmful or damaging items or substances are accessible.
- Anytime there is a transfer of custody of the prisoner (hospital, court appearance, etc.) the prisoner will be re-searched by the transporting officer.
- Strip searches and/or body cavity searches shall be conducted only in accordance with Department Policy, “Strip Searches”.
- Searches shall be conducted in accordance with the following procedures:
- Officer may search the pockets, purse bags or any outer garments of a prisoner of the same or opposite sex.
- When available and practical an officer of the same sex as the prisoner shall conduct the search.
- Searches of physically disabled persons will be conducted in a careful manner as stated in Wis. Stat. §968.256. Unless circumstances dictate otherwise, officers will not remove any assistive devices used by the physically disabled person.
- Transportation
- When available, a police vehicle equipped with a security screen will be used to transport prisoners.
- Police vehicles shall be examined at the beginning of each shift to ensure the proper operation of all safety equipment.
- Officers shall examine the inside of the police vehicle for contraband prior to and after a prisoner transport.
- The pre-loading inspection may be omitted by the officer when there is absolutely no possibility the vehicle has been contaminated between the time the interior was last inspected and the subsequent transport.
- When possible, the prisoner will ride on the right-hand side of the rear seat.
- If a prisoner is or becomes sick or injured during an arrest, the arresting officer shall seek medical attention immediately. Very sick or seriously injured prisoners must be transported by ambulance with at least one officer riding with the prisoner in the ambulance.
- Prisoners shall be secured with a seat belt during transport, except when a prisoner is resisting the officer's efforts to such an extent that it is unsafe for both the officer and the prisoner.
- In the event of a long distance transport of a prisoner, the selection of necessary stops shall be done randomly. Under no circumstances should the officer accept the prisoner's recommendations.
- Prisoners being transported should not be left unattended and should remain in the officer's view at all times.
- Communications with an attorney or family member by a prisoner should not be allowed until the prisoner has been secured at the police department or other secure facility.
- Subject subpart (vi) above, a vehicle transporting a prisoner shall not stop or respond to the need for law enforcement services.
- Officers will exercise due care when transporting a handicapped or disabled person. If a handicapped or disabled person cannot be safely transported in a police squad, officers should consider transporting the handicapped or disabled person in an ambulance. Officers will ensure that the handicapped or disabled person is restrained as appropriate for the person’s handicap. Officers will ensure that assistive devices used by the handicapped or disabled person are transported along with the person.
- Mileage
- Whenever a prisoner is transported, the starting and ending mileage shall radioed to the City of Platteville and/or Grant County Dispatch Center.
- Prisoner property
- Upon release from the department, all items belonging to the prisoner will be returned unless the property is being held as evidence, contraband or for safe keeping on request of the prisoner.
- Property belonging to a prisoner who is being transported to the County Jail shall be taken to the jail with the prisoner, unless the property is being held as evidence, contraband or for safe keeping on request of the prisoner. The property shall be inventoried and released pursuant to departmental policy: Evidence (Collection-Preservation).
- Booking
- All arrested persons should be identified.
- Arrested persons shall be fingerprinted and photographed if they meet the criterion established in the Fingerprinting Procedure Policy.
- Any person taken into physical custody for a criminal or UWS Chapter 18 violation may be photographed.
- Transporting to County Jails or Other Facilities
- Officers shall follow all procedures of the receiving facility.
- The Grant County Jail will require a medical clearance of a prisoner prior to accepting him/her into the jail if any of the criteria listed in the Pre-Booking Medical Questionnaire are met. If you need to obtain medical clearance, please review the Medical Clearance Form.
- Restraint devices shall only be removed at the request of the jailor or person in charge of the facility.
- The officer shall provide the completed Authorization To Hold form necessary to hold the prisoner at the facility to the person in charge of the facility.
- Officers will always remain with the prisoner while in a secured facility. If the officer needs to leave the room for any reason, he/she will make the necessary arrangements to have another officer assist in watching over the prisoner.
- While using PLPD’s sally port, squads are required to be backed into the port to prevent property and personal damage when leaving the facility.
- Escape of Prisoners
- If a prisoner escapes, the transporting officer shall immediately notify the local police authority, if in another jurisdiction, and the Platteville Communications Center. The following information shall be provided:
- The location of the escape and the prisoner’s last direction of travel.
- The prisoner's full name, date of birth, clothing description and physical characteristics.
- The reasons that the prisoner was in custody.
- The Police Chief and/or Sergeant shall be notified immediately.
- The officer shall cooperate fully with local police if outside the City of Platteville.
- The officer shall request additional personnel and coordinate their placement and activities until relieved by a superior officer. The shift supervisor with the permission of the Chief may call in a K-9 unit.
- The incident shall be thoroughly documented in the incident report.