500-03 Guarding Prisoners at Area Hospitals Flashcards
Officers shall use _____ to prevent the escape of a prisoner receiving medical treatment.
When possible, officers shall _____ with the prisoner during treatment.
The _____ is the final authority in such matters.
1) sound judgment
2) maintain visual contact
3) attending physician
Officers shall remain within reasonable proximity to the prisoner during medical procedures that…
Officers shall consider their personal safety, the safety of the medical staff, and the safety of the prisoners at all times.
exclude their immediate presence.
Blind Book.
The process of registering prisoner information and/or property into the Harris County Operations Management System at a Harris County jail facility without the prisoner physically being in the facility.
The _____ shall have primary responsibility for guarding a prisoner until the prisoner is booked into jail or transferred to a Harris County sheriff’s deputy, a To-Be Warrant has been filed, or the prisoner is released as otherwise required.
patrol division to which an arresting officer is assigned
Requirements
The shift commander, or the sergeant in the shift commander’s absence, shall review and evaluate the circumstances surrounding a prisoner’s arrest and hospitalization to determine whether the prisoner should be guarded. The shift commander shall consider the following:
a. The _____ needs of the division.
b. The _____ of the prisoner.
c. The seriousness of the _____.
d. Any circumstances indicating the prisoner could be _____.
a. The current manpower needs of the division.
b. The degree of incapacitation of the prisoner.
c. The seriousness of the crime charged (e.g., Class A or B misdemeanor).
d. Any circumstances indicating the prisoner could be targeted for retaliation.
Requirements
If the shift commander authorizes the prisoner to be left unguarded, the shift commander shall obtain an updated status at least every ____hours on the unguarded prisoner.
Because of federal medical privacy laws, hospitals may be unwilling to disclose the prisoner’s status; therefore, the shift commander must be prepared to…
1) four
2) assign an officer to check on the prisoner’s status.
Requirements
Shift commanders shall ensure the next shift commander is briefed about the prisoner. The incoming shift commander shall conduct an _____ to determine if the prisoner needs to be guarded.
When the prisoner’s condition improves sufficiently to make the prisoner capable of flight from the hospital, the prisoner shall _____
1) independent review
2) be guarded.
Officers’ Responsibilities
Officers guarding an arrested person requiring hospitalization and charged with a Class B misdemeanor or greater offense shall notify the roll call sergeant. Officers shall give the roll call sergeant all the information needed including the prisoner’s name, race, gender, and location of confinement (e.g., hospital, floor, room, or ward number), the charge, as well as any other pertinent information.
Officers guarding prisoners shall contact the roll call sergeant ____ prior to the end of their shift regarding the status of the hospitalized prisoner. Officers shall remain on hospital assignment until an on-duty officer relieves them or the prisoner’s status changes.
Officers assigned to relief duty for hospital assignments shall proceed directly to the hospital assignment without any stops other than those approved by a supervisor. Prisoners in custody at a medical facility are allowed visitors only…
1) one hour
2) with a supervisor’s approval.
Supervisors’ Responsibilities
When the roll call sergeant is informed an officer is guarding a prisoner who has been charged with a Class B misdemeanor or greater offense, the sergeant shall determine…
The supervisor shall contact the_____ and come to a mutually agreed upon time for transfer of that prisoner. If no time can be agreed upon, the primary patrol division shall maintain responsibility for the prisoner until such time the HCSO agrees to the transfer.
1) if the prisoner should be transferred to the custody of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).
2) HCSO Intake
Supervisors’ Responsibilities
When an officer is assigned to guard a prisoner, the roll call sergeant is responsible for ensuring the officer is _____ and the relieving roll call sergeant is _____.
This process shall continue until the prisoner’s status changes or the HCSO takes custody of the prisoner.
1) relieved in a timely manner
2) made aware of the hospital assignment
Supervisors’ Responsibilities
When prisoners are ready for transfer to HCSO custody, the roll call sergeant shall contact the HCSO Intake. Once the HCSO has a unit available and the roll call sergeant has confirmed the transfer of custody has been completed, the roll call sergeant shall…
If a deputy is not available, the roll call sergeant shall notify the guarding officer of the estimated transfer time and inform the _____ of the updated status.
1) immediately notify the officer on guard to terminate the hospital assignment.
2) incoming roll call sergeant
Supervisors’ Responsibilities
If the hospitalized prisoner has not been charged, the roll call sergeant shall determine whether the criteria has been met to…
In all of the above circumstances, roll call sergeants shall…
1) file a To-Be Warrant (see section 3, To-Be Warrants)
2) notify the shift commander.
GUIDELINES FOR TRANSFER OF CUSTODY AT AREA HOSPITALS
HCSO will not complete the transfer of custody for prisoners who are in an operating room, labor and delivery room, the emergency room, or a clinic.
HCSO will take custody of a prisoner at a hospital once the prisoner has been assigned to a room or bed and one or more of the following criteria have been met:
a.
Charges are filed and approved by the Harris County District Attorney’s (DA’s) Office. The _____ shall be included in the charges.
b.
The prisoner has _____.
1) hospital, doctor’s name, and room number or bed number
2) confirmed open warrant(s)
GUIDELINES FOR TRANSFER OF CUSTODY AT AREA HOSPITALS
Officers guarding prisoners that meet the above criteria shall notify the roll call sergeant to initiate the transfer of custody to HCSO.
If a deputy is available and the required criteria for transfer of custody has been met, the officer shall deliver the _____ to the jail and complete the registration (blind book) process.
The prisoner’s paperwork, money, and personal property shall remain the responsibility of the officer until the transfer of custody is complete.
Officers shall notify the _____ when the transfer is complete.
1) prisoner’s paperwork, money, and personal property
2) roll call sergeant
TO-BE WARRANTS
To-Be Warrants may be filed on hospitalized prisoners if all of the following exist:
a. The ____ has approved the filing of a To-Be Warrant.
b. The prisoner has a serious medical condition requiring ____.
c. The prisoner is a _____.
d. The prisoner has been positively identified through fingerprint identification, a valid federal or state issued identification, or _____.
e. The prisoner is not believed to be ____
a. The DA’s Office has approved the filing of a To-Be Warrant.
b. The prisoner has a serious medical condition requiring hospitalization.
c. The prisoner is a non-violent offender.
d. The prisoner has been positively identified through fingerprint identification, a valid federal or state issued identification, or personal knowledge of the arresting officer.
e. The prisoner is not believed to be a flight risk.
