Officer Safety (Chapter 3) Flashcards
Visual Search
Visually scanning for contraband items
Observing
Being aware of any occurrence or activity, such as irregular mood changes, emotional outbursts, acting out, threatening behavior, or changes in inmate energy levels, that may signify safety and security problems.
Identifying a Potential Threat
(To) Concentrate on possible threats while remaining aware of your surroundings. [ This stage can occur several times during a shift]
Responding to a threat
(To) Focus your attention on potential threats while maintaining intense concentration and avoiding tunnel vision [In response to an actual threat, you should be mentally ahead of the threat and take appropriate action]
Things to use when evaluating a situation
- Positioning
- Posture
- Observing
- Listening (Active)
Personal Information on an ID
-Name
-Address
- Date of birth
Correctional Officers Duty to Control Contraband
Correctional officers are tasked with preventing, controlling, and disposing of contraband through regular and irregular searches.
Situational Awareness
(This is) A state of mental responsiveness. The ability to pay attention to what is going on around you.
Final Disposition of Contraband
May includes
- Immediate disposal
- Storage for future disciplinary action, case reference or training purposes
(Some instances may involve outside investigators)
Parts of Positioning
- Keeping a safe distance
- Being familiar with your environment
- Watching groups and individuals
Common types of Contraband Stored as evidence
- weapons
-illegal drugs - items used in a serious incident or to commit a crime
Contraband is kept as evidence if…
- its part of an investigation
- was used in the commission of a crime
- is required for disciplinary proceedings
Clothed Search
Physically patting and squeezing the clothing of a person in a systemic pattern, following the quadrant search approach, used in a secure environment.
Pat - Down
Physically frisking a subject in a predetermined pattern to locate weapons or other types of contraband
Methods of Contraband Introduction
- Concealed in clothing
- On their person
- Body cavities
- canteen or commissary items
- deliveries
- in other items
Common Inmate Weapons
-shanks (MOST COMMON)
- sports equipment
- food service equipment
- office supplies
- liquid substances (bleach, urine)
- toothbrushes
- disposable razors
-writing utensils
- heavy objects placed in a sock
Hard / Hazardous Contraband Examples
- Firearms
- Homemade knives (shanks)
- Other Weapons
- Drugs
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Toxic Materials
- Prescription Medication
- Inhalants
- Cell Phones
- Electronic Devices that store or receive data
Hard / Hazardous Contraband
Any item that poses a serious threat to the safety and security of the staff, inmates, and facility.
ID Card Standards
- Photograph
- Identification Number
- Signature
- Personal Information
- Physical Features
- Security Features
Four Categories of Stress
- Environmental
- Personal
- Work-Related
- Self-Induced
(active) Listening in evaluating context
A learned skill that you should use to quickly determine the context, threat, and relevance of events unfolding around you.
Equipment for Area Search
- Flashlights
- Screwdrivers
- Mirrors
- Probing devices
- Collection bags or containers
- Form to record any contraband found
Metal Detection
Using electronic devices to detect a metal object on or within a person or concealed within an item
Cell / Area Search
Visually and physically inspecting an area in a systemic manner
Custodial Search
Physically patting and squeezing the clothing of a person in a systemic pattern; used when a subject is taken into custody in an unsecured environment.
Being Alert
(To) Be aware of what is going on around you at all times. Pay attention to sights and sounds to help maintain a high level of alertness.
Deception
(This) Is lying to, misleading, tricking, or fooling another person.
Security Features on an ID
- hologram
- watermark
- raised or embossed seal
- magnetic stripe or bar code
- expiration date
Physical Features on an ID
- Gender
- Height
- Weight
- Hair Color
- Eye color
- Scars, Marks, Tattoos
Manual Identification
- inmate face sheet
- inmate gate pass
- inmate files
- agency identification card
- armband / wristband
- government issued identification cards
Automated Identification
- Facial recognition software
- Automated visitor registration hand scanner
- Automated barcode scanner
- Rapid Identification System
- Automated Biometric Identification Solution
Valid Forms of Identification
- State driver’s License
- State identification card
- Criminal Justice Agency or Correctional facility identification card or records
- US military identification card
- US passport
- Facility-issued wristband
- Birth certificate (for minors under 12)
- Student identification card
Conducting a Vehicle Search
- Search all compartments and areas
- Above and below the vehicle
- Interior and exterior
- The Engine
- The glovebox
- The consoles
- The toolbox
Details to Document for a search
- Subjects’ names
- Location
- Items confiscated
- Officers who conducted the search
Nuisance Contraband
Any authorized item found in excessive amounts or altered from it’s original state that usually does not pose an immediate threat to the safety or security of the staff, inmates, and facility.
How Visitors Manipulate & Deceive
- Bring gifts to staff
- Offers favors to staff
- Use intimidation with staff
Questioning an ID
Ask for information on the card that the person should know examples:
- Their date of birth
- Address
Look for obvious alterations or inconsistencies
(Inmate) Manipulation
Occurs when an inmate attempts to get something they want by influencing that officer or staff member to do something the officer or staff member would not ordinarily do.
Organized team for manipulation/deception (positions)
- observers
- contacts
- runners
- turners
- pointmen
Zone / Quadrant Search Pattern
Used for an area that is large. Divide the area into four sections and search using one of the patterns listed before
Grid Search Pattern
A variation of the strip/line search pattern it overlaps a series of lines in a cross pattern.
Strip/Line Search Pattern
Usually used in a predetermined area by several people. The search area is divided into lanes that are searched by one or more people in both directions until the entire area has ben examined.
Spiral Search Pattern
Usually used by one person. The searcher begins at a central point and moves in increasingly larger circles to the outermost boundary of the search area.
Search Patterns
- spiral
- strip/line
- grid
- zone/quadrant
Areas to be Searched
- All facility areas including
dayrooms, cells, dormitories, rec yards, kitchens, parking lots - Structures and furnishings including
bars, locks, windows, doors, bunks, chairs - Outside transport destinations including
work-release sites, courtrooms, medical offices
Examining Visitor Property
-open and search all bags
- briefcases
- books and papers
- Inspect all clothing items
- check containers for hidden compartments
Contraband that may require special disposal
- Money
- Medication
- Illegal drugs
- Weapons
- Biohazardous material
Appropriate Receptacles for Contraband Disposal
- receptacle not accessible to inmates
- trash bin not accessible to inmates
- incinerators not accessible to inmates
Photograph Contraband
Narcotics, weapons and other dangerous items should always be photographed BEFORE confiscation, storage, or disposal for possible presentation in criminal proceedings.
Types of Valid Identification
- automated
- manual
Equipment for Person Search
- gloves
- metal detectors
- ion and x-ray scanners
- body imaging
- canine
Positioning
Is placing yourself in a tactically advantageous location to observe an area
Environmental Stress
- weather
- noise levels
- lighting conditions
- crowded areas
Why we address ALL violations
Inmates may challenge our authority by committing minor infractions. We address all violations professionally and according to policy because failure to do so may result in inmates behavior escalating into more serious problems.
Complacency
A comfortable or relaxed state of mind, which lulls you into a false sense of safety and security.
Dangers of Complacency OR Why Complacency is your worst enemy
You may not be aware of what is happening or what could happen in any given situation. Failure to be alert can jeopardize the safety of the officer, inmate, visitors, and the general public, and the facility’s security.
Stages of Situation Awareness
- Being alert
- Identifying a potential threat
- Responding to a threat
Self - Induced
- personal attitudes toward work
- perception of others
- work or academic goals
Work - Related Stress
- shift work
- supervisors
- co-workers
- contact with the general public
- court appearances
- performance standards
Personal Stress
- family issues
- health
- lack of sleep
- poor eating habits
- financial situation
- academic demands
Documentation of Contraband
Documents may include inventory of contraband and an incident report.
Details to include
- where it was found
- description of what was found
- quantity
- method of disposal
Proper Contraband Storage
- initiate chain of custody & inventory forms
- issue a receipt if necessary ( unauthorized personal)
- store in paper/plastic bags, boxes or storage bins in a secured, locked area inaccessible to inmates
- label container with the inmate’s name, DC number and the document where it will be stored
Tunnel Vision
Is when your attention and field of view narrow because of stress
Posture
Is holding your body in a manner that shows strength, confidence, interest, and control
Controlled Behavior
Demonstrating confidence and control by avoiding such distracting behaviors as foot tapping, nail biting, and fidgeting.
Nuisance Contraband Examples
- excessive clothing
- excessive linen
- excessive laundry items
- excessive canteen and hygiene items
- excessive photos
- excessive reading materials
- excessive over-the-counter medication
- excessive letters
Officer Behaviors that help avoid manipulation
- be a part of the correctional team
- follow rules and procedures
- monitor remarks, gestures and actions
- communicate when you suspect a problem
- know your job and perform it properly
- restrict your relationship with inmates to activities and discussions that are apart of your official duties
- know your job perform it properly
- address inmates by ‘inmate’ or their last name
- learn to say “no” and mean it
- document incidents
- be cautious
- be suspicious
- be proffessional
- be truthful
How inmates manipulate or decieve
- attempting to create bonds with staff members
- circumventing or disobeying rules
- distracting staff
- using special circumstances or situations
- attempting to engage staff in casual or non-job related conversation
- spreading rumors about staff or attempting to turn one staff member against another
- over familiarizing with staff
- attempting any illegal activity
Search Methods Used to Detect Contraband
- visual search
- pat down
- clothed search
- custodial search
- cell/area search
- metal detection
- strip search
- vehicle search
- body cavity search
Body Cavity Search
Visually and physically inspecting body opening; such searched are to be conducted by medical staff only.
Vehicle Search
Visually and physically inspecting a vehicle to locate contraband
Strip - Search
Visually searching an unclothed person and physically searching their clothing. (only done by same-sex officers except in emergencies [ IR is written in such incidents] )
Evidence Protocols of PREA
Securing clothing of the victim and the suspect, and DNA collection
Stress
Can affect your focus and attention to detail which can negatively ninfluence decision-making.
