Inmate Transport Information
Transporting inmates is among the most dangerous, but necessary, aspects of law enforcement. The job evoked little attention until the appearance Nicolas Cage's 1997 thriller, "Con Air." The film's central scenario of desperate inmates hijacking the plane taking them to prison seemed far-fetched. However, to law enforcement, such scenarios are all too vivid, because the inmate transport process is the weakest link in the corrections system. Officers who ignore this reality risk severe injury or death from those they transport.
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Reasons for Transporting Inmates
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Incarceration rates soared in the 1980s, forcing the construction of multiple building complexes. Until then, there was little need to extensively transport inmates, which is necessary for many reasons. In Ohio, for example, examples include administrative transfers between institutions, as well as various medical and mental health appointments, says Reginald Wilkinson, director of the state's prison system, writing for Correctional Best Practices magazine.
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Inmate Transport Challenges
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If logistics are any guide, the transportation task can be daunting. As Wilkinson observes, in Ohio alone, roughly 200 inmates per day move between 32 prisons along state highways. The greatest danger for any officer is that the transport process represents the inmate's last, best chance for escape. Add medical emergencies, vehicle breakdowns and traffic accidents to the situation, and the danger is significantly greater. However, a 1997 National Sheriffs' Association study found that less than half its respondents had undergone new or refresher training in prisoner transport.
Officers' Challenges
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Not every law enforcement officer should be assigned high risk inmate transport, according to a Policelink.com article by Joseph Garcia, a specialized instructor in the subject. Critical qualities for success include an ability to shoot from cars, a high level of mental and physical fitness, and the ability to scan unfamiliar people or situations that may offer escape opportunities. For those reasons, many transport jobs should not go to "some 'Joey Bagadonuts' who has been at your facility for years and years," Garcia adds.
Transport Procedures
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Counter-terrorism and emergency preparedness expert William Sturgeon recommends that transports start with a simple assumption--all inmates should be considered escape risks. This requires special attention to elementary steps, such as thoroughly checking the restraints to be used during the trip. Officers should also observe their surroundings, in case they are being followed, and exercise greater alertness on arriving at the destination--which is often the most dangerous moment of the trip.
Conclusions
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As experts like Garcia and Sturgeon note, communication, control and a commitment to training are the keys to successful transports. This becomes especially important in managing public perception, given the never-ending recycling of escape stories in films like "Con Air," or Dennis Hopper's psychotic bus hijacker in "Speed." An officer who leaves no detail to chance will fare better than an ill-trained peer. Garcia writes: "You have only one chance to get it right. If you get it wrong, the consequences can be deadly."
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- Photo Credit "Piraten-Anja, eingelochte Piraten, oft zu beobachten!" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: playroughde under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
