Use of Seatbelts During Inmate Transports Survey

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State/City: Agency: Name and Title: Phone: Email: Response Comment Yes No Comment Alabama Alabama Department of Corrections Marcia Twait, Administrative Analyst 334-‐353-‐9538 marcia.twait@doc.alabama.gov Yes No

Arizona Department of Arizona Corrections

Keith Smith, Security Operations

Administrator on behalf of Director

Charles Ryan 602-‐364-‐3738 ksmith7@azcorrections.gov No Yes Arkansas Arkansas Department of Correction Tiffanye Compton, Research & Planning

Administrator 870-‐267-‐6335 tiffanye.compton@arkansas.gov Yes

Our Agency/Department Policy (Administrative Directive #2011-‐04/Transportation-‐Escorting of Inmates Outside of Units-‐Centers) requires that all inmates transported in a 15-‐passenger van will be

required to wear seat belts.

No We are not exempt from any State _Laws.

California

California Department of Corrections and

Rehabilitation

John L. Herrera 916-‐323-‐4064 john.herrera@cdcr.ca.gov No Yes

Colorado

Colorado Department of

Corrections Chuck Hildebrand 719-‐269-‐5758 chuck.hildebrand@doc.state.co.us No

Policy does not currently require the use of seat belts during transports; however, some facilities

use them. Yes

Connecticut Department of Connecticut Correction

Jeffrey DeVore,

Captain 860-‐253-‐8310 Jeffrey.DeVore@po.state.ct.us Yes No

Florida Florida Department _{of Corrections}

Randy Agerton, Assistant Bureau

Chief -‐ Security Operations

850-‐717-‐3248 agerton.randy@mail.dc.state.fl.us Yes Yes

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State/City: Agency: Name and Title: Phone: Email: Response Comment Yes No Comment Please provide the contact information for the person completing the survey Does your Department restrain inmates with seat belts during

transports?

Does state law in your jurisdiction exempt the Department from seat belt requirements?

Idaho Idaho Department of Correction

Jeff Zmuda, Deputy Chief Prisons

208-‐6588-‐

2123 jzmuda@idoc.idaho.gov Yes No

Kansas Kansas Department of Corrections

Liz Rice, Classification

Manager

785-‐296-‐4501 LizR@doc.ks.gov Yes No

Kentucky Department of kentucky Corrections Mary D. Godfrey, Branch Manager Programs Adult Institutions 502-‐564-‐2220

ext 22348 maryd.godfrey@ky.gov Yes Yes

Only on trasportation buses. The driver has a seat belt

Louisiana Louisiana Mike Wilson,

Lt. Colonel 225-‐342-‐4399 mwilson2@corrections.state.la.us Yes No

Maine Maine Department of Corrections

Gary LaPlante,

Director of Security 207-‐287-‐2698 gary.laplante@maine.gov Yes No

The only exception would be a transport bus, which has the same

requirements as school, transit...

Maryland

Maryland Departmentof Public Safety and

Correctional Services Danny McCoy, Director Special Operation 410-‐585-‐3925 dmccoy@dpscs.state.md.us Yes No Michigan Michigan Department of Corrections David Fenby, Transportation

Manager 517-‐388-‐5160 fenbyd@michigan.gov Yes No

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transports?

Montana Department of Montana Corrections

Tom Wood,

Major 406-‐846-‐1320 ex. 2364 twood@mt.gov Yes grounds for work assignments do not require beltsDuring off-‐stie transports. Bus transports on No

Nebraska

Nebraska Dept. of Correctional

Services

Craig Gilsdorf, Warrant/Extradition

Officer 402-‐479-‐5741 Craig.Gilsdorf@nebraska.gov Yes No

New Jersey NJ Department of _Corrections

Mark Farsi, Deputy Commissioner 609-‐292-‐4036 x 5522 mark.farsi@doc.state.nj.us No No New York

New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Douglas Botsford, Director of Classification and Movement 518-‐457-‐6022 Douglas.Botsford@doccs.ny.gov No

Central Office transportation utilizes 40 man coaches and 20 man coaches which are not

equipped with seat belts. Yes New York City NYC Correction

Department

M. Maurizi,

Asst. Deputy Warden 718-‐546-‐1330 michael.maurizi@doc.nyc.gov Yes

With the exception of when busses are used for

transport. Yes

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transports?

Ohio

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and

Correction

Charlotte E. Owens, Regional Security

Administrator

614-‐752-‐1724 Charlotte.Owens@odrc.state.oh.us

Seat belts are used when transporting inmates in handicapped/wheelchair accessible vans. The seat belt assists in keeping the inmate positioned in the

upright position during the transport. Some inmates are not able to do so on their own due to

their medical condition. During Type B transports, seat belts are used if they are available

in the vehicle. During Type B transports, the inmate is not restrained, i.e., no handcuffs, leg

irons, belly chain. Type B inmate transports include community service work details, community release, expiration of sentence, parole,

institution work detail, Ohio Penal Industry work detail, and escort/transport from a correctional

camp to a main compound for work, services. Seat belts are not used for any other inmate

transport, i.e., inmates in full or modified applications of retraints. In the state of Ohio,

seat belt usage is not required to be worn by occupance located in the rear of a van or bus.

No

Oklahoma Oklahoma Dept. of _Corrections

Kelly Wilkey, Chief of Security,

Central Transportation Unit

405-‐664-‐5223 kelly.wilkey@doc.state.ok.us No Yes

Oregon Department of Oregon Corrections

Corey Fhuere, Transport Manager

503-‐373-‐1110

ext. 4961 Corey.Fhuere@doc.state.or.us Yes

Yes on vans and sedans, no on buses and no on mini buses (cargo truck) due to no seatbelt devices

available.

No

811.215 Exemptions from safety belt requirements. ORS 811.210 does not apply to: (6) Any person who is being transported while in the custody of a police officer or

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State/City: Agency: Name and Title: Phone: Email: Response Comment Yes No Comment

Please provide the contact information for the person completing the survey Does your Department restrain inmates with seat belts during _transports? Does state law in your jurisdiction exempt the Department _{from seat belt requirements?}

Pennsylvania PA Department of _Corrections

Tammy Ferguson, Major, Chief of

Security 717-‐728-‐3901 taferguson@pa.gov Yes

The ability to restrain inmates during transports is

contingent on the type of vehicle being utilized. No

South Carolina

South Carolina Department of

Corrections

Erin Ferencik,

Statistician I 803-‐896-‐1980 ferencik.erin@doc.sc.gov Yes No

State law exempts the use of seat belts in buses.

South Dakota South Dakota State _Penitentiary _{Deputy Warden}Daryl Slykhuis, 605-‐367-‐5054 daryl.slykhuis@state.sd.us Yes No Tennessee Department of Tennessee

Correction

Edwin Doolittle,

Sgt. 615-‐350-‐3365 ext. 1278 Edwin.N.Doolittle@tn.gov Yes Bus transports are the exception. No Texas Texas Department _{of Criminal Justice} _{Plans & Operations}Rosie Plattenburg, 936-‐437-‐6280 Rosie.Plattenburg@tdcj.state.tx.us No No

State law does not regulate seat belts for adults in larger vehicles such as those used to transport

inmates. Utah Utah Department _{of Corrections} Deputy Executive Robyn Williams,

Director

801-‐545-‐5634 robyn@utah.gov Yes No

Washington WA Department of Corrections

Devon Schrum,

Director of Security 360-‐725-‐8835 devon.schrum@doc.wa.gov Yes When seat belts are available. No

Seat belts are required for any vehicle that comes equipped with

seatbelts. Wyoming Wyoming Department of Corrections Scott Abbott, Deputy Administrator Operations

307-‐777-‐3532 scott.abbott@wyo.gov Yes Except on Buses No

Yes -‐ 24 No -‐ 7

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State/City: Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Florida

Automobiles Vans Buses Other (please specify) _restraintLap belt

Lap and shoulder

restraint Other (please specify) Response Comment

Automobiles Vans Buses Lap belt

restraint

Lap and shoulder restraint

Yes

N/A N/A N/A

Vans

Transport vehicles are fifteen passenger vans. Factory lap/shoulder seat

belts are used. We also transport in 24/36 passenger buses, but no seat belts are installed or

used.

Lap and shoulder

restraint Yes

We do use mechanical restraints (hand, leg and black boxes) at the

same time seat belts are in use.

N/A N/A N/A

Vans _restraintLap belt

Lap and shoulder

restraint Yes

Automobiles Vans Buses

All buses are NOT equipped with seat belts as they are exempt. However, staff are

required to seat belt inmates in vans and cars.

Yes

All inmates transported on buses are restrained with belly chains and leg irons. All inmates transported in vans and cars are restrained with

handcuffs, black box, waist and pigtail chains, and leg irons.

Automobiles Vans _restraintLap belt

Lap and shoulder

restraint Yes

If your Department restrains inmates during transports, what type of vehicles used by your Department are equipped with seat belts? (Select

all that apply)

If your Department uses seat belt restraints for inmate transports, what type of seat belts does the department use? (Please check all that apply)

Does your Department use mechanical restraints (i.e., handcuffs, leg shackles) along with seat belt

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State/City: AlabamaIdaho Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Michigan Mississippi

Other (please specify) Response Comment If your Department restrains inmates during transports, what type of

vehicles used by your Department are equipped with seat belts? (Select all that apply)

restraints?

Automobiles Vans Lap belt

restraint

Yes

Automobiles Vans shoulder Lap and

restraint

Yes

Automobiles Vans Buses are exempt by law except for the driver

Lap belt restraint Lap and shoulder restraint Yes

restraint

Yes

restraint Lap and shoulder restraint Yes Automobiles Vans Lap and shoulder restraint Yes

Lap and shoulder restraint Yes Automobiles Vans Lap and shoulder restraint Yes

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State/City: Alabama Montana Nebraska New Jersey New York

New York City North Carolina

Automobiles Vans Buses Other (please specify) _restraintLap belt shoulder Lap and restraint

restraints?

Automobiles Vans _restraintLap belt shoulder Lap and restraint

Depending on the vehicle used. Vans tend to have lap

belts and sedans tend to have shoulder straps and

waist restraints.

Yes

Lap and shoulder

restraint Yes

Custody level dictates the restraints used.

Vans

Lap and shoulder

restraint Yes

NJ DOC uses mechanical restraints, but do not use seat belts when transporting inmates on buses. N/A

restraint Lap and shoulder restraint Yes Automobiles Vans Lap and shoulder restraint Yes

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State/City:

Alabama

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Automobiles Vans Buses Other (please specify) _restraintLap belt shoulder Lap and restraint

restraints?

Automobiles Vans

All handicapped/wheelchair accessible vans are equipped with seat belts.

All automobiles are equipped with seat belts.

Yes

Mechanical restraints are only used along with seat belt restraints in the handicapped/wheelchair accessible

vans.

Yes

The central transportation unit uses mechanical restraints on all offenders, but currenly do no use

seat belts.

restraint

Yes Inmates on work crew vans use seat belt devices, but no restraints obviously.

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State/City: Alabama Pennsylvania South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Washington Wyoming 32 Responses

restraints?

Lap and shoulder

restraint Yes

Security restraints used during transport include: handcuffs, leg irons, waist chains, and handcuff boxes. Additional security restraints

are available and may be utilized at the direction of the Shift Commander based on the Transport

Risk Assessment Automobiles Vans Lap and shoulder restraint Yes Automobiles Vans Lap and shoulder restraint Yes

restraint

Yes

N/A N/A N/A

restraint

Yes

Automobiles Vans did not come equipped with Our large transport buses seat belts. Lap belt restraint Lap and shoulder restraint

Yes Yes, we use wrist, ankle, and waist restraints depending on custody level and other factors.

Automobiles Vans Lap and shoulder restraint Yes Yes -‐ 28 No -‐ 0 N/A -‐ 4 27 24 27 2 13

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All inmate transports require use of seat

belts

Work detail transports require

use of seat belts

Institution transfers require use of seat

belts

Court transports require use of seat

belts

There is no requirement for the

use of seat belts Other (please specify)

Correctional

staff Inmate N/A Other (please specify) There is no

requirement for the use of seat belts

Seat belts are available and inmates are advised to use them.

Correctional staff

Seat belt restraints are required only for Close/Max lockup custody

inmates; the correctional staff buckles the seat belt. There is no

requirement for the use of seat belts

N/A

belts

Seat belts by State Law and Department Policy are used in all transports. The only exception is

when inmates are transported on buses. Our buses do not have seat belts.

Correctional staff

The Transportation Officers are required by policy to buckle up the

inmate for transport.

N/A N/A

use of seat belts N/A

belts

Correctional staff

belts

use of seat belts

belts

The buses that the department utilizes for

transports are not equipped with seat belts Correctional staff If your agency uses seat belt restraints during inmate transports, please indicate what types of transports require inmates to use seat belts. (please check all

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belts

use of seat belts

belts

use of seat belts

Other (please specify) Correctional _staff Inmate N/A Other (please specify) If your agency uses seat belt restraints during inmate transports, please indicate what types of transports require inmates to use seat belts. (please check all

that apply)

If your agency requires seat belts for inmates during transports, who is responsible for "buckling up" the inmate for transport?

use of seat belts

belts

Correctional

staff Inmate

use of seat belts

N/A

belts

Except for buses which only have a driver seat belt

Correctional staff

belts

Correctional staff

belts

Correctional staff

Staff are directed to ensure the prisoners have a properly fastened seat buckle State Law Requires the

use of seat belts All inmate transports

require use of seat belts

use of seat belts

belts

Correctional staff

belts Inmate

belts

Correctional staff

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belts

use of seat belts

belts

use of seat belts

that apply)

belts

All, with the exception of on-‐site bus transports

for work details Correctional staff Inmate

Staff for off-‐site transports and inamtes for inmate driven work detail vehicles on the ranch and

maintenance crews. All inmate transports

Correctional

staff Inmate

Restrained inmates are buckled by staff and inmates that are not

restrained are reminded and responsible for their own seat belts. Handicapped inmates are strapped into the

handicapped van during transport.

Correctional staff There is no

requirement for the

use of seat belts N/A

use of seat belts

Correctional staff Institution transfers

belts

Correctional staff

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State/City:

Alabama

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

belts

use of seat belts

belts

use of seat belts

that apply)

use of seat belts

Seat belts are used when transporting inmates in handicapped/wheelchair accessible vans. The seat belt assists in keeping the inmate positioned

in the upright position during the transport. Some inmates are not able to do so on their own

due to their medical condition. During Type B transports, seat belts are used if they are

available in the vehicle. During Type B transports, the inmate is not restrained, i.e., no handcuffs, leg irons, belly chain. Type B inmate

transports include community service work details, community release, expiration of sentence, parole, institution work detail, Ohio Penal Industry work detail, and escort/transport

from a correctional camp to a main compound for work, services. Seat belts are not used for

any other inmate transport, i.e., inmates in full or modified applications of retraints.

Inmate

N/A

belts

use of seat belts

belts

All transports, trips, medical appointments, etc. use seat belts, except for the buses and mini-‐

buses, which are not equipped.

Correctional

staff Inmate

Correctional Staff are responsible for applying seatbelts on restrained

inmates. Correctional Staff are responsible for ensuring that inmates on work detail utilize their

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belts

use of seat belts

belts

use of seat belts

that apply) If your agency requires seat belts for inmates during transports, who is responsible for "buckling up" the inmate for transport?

belts

Correctional staff

Inmates transported in motor vehicles for the purpose of work details may secure their seat belts.

It is the responsibility of the work detail supervisor to ensure that the

inmates are properly restrained in seat belts.

belts

Exception: Inmates transported in buses do not use seat belts because the buses are not

equipped with seat belts.

Correctional staff All inmate transports

use of seat belts

belts

Bus transports are the exception. Correctional _staff

N/A N/A

belts

Correctional

staff Work crews buckle themselves. Staff inspects belt use. All inmate transports

use of seat belts

belts

All transports use seat belt restraints if available. Correctional

staff Inmate

If the offender is restrained, the custody escort officer assists with the seat belt restraint. Offenders

who are not restrained are responsible for fastening their own

seat belts. All inmate transports

use of seat belts

belts

Correctional

staff if restrained

8 6 23 7 7

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Please provide any other comments regarding your Department's policy on use

of seat belt restraints.

Response Comment Response Comment Response Comment Open-‐Ended Response

Discretionary Mandatory

Seat belt restraints for inmates in Close/Max lockup custody are

mandatory; all others are discretionary.

Yes

N/A N/A Yes

Mandatory

The Arkansas Department of Correction Policy #2011-‐04 (Transportation-‐Escorting of

Inmates Outside of Units-‐ Centers) states that all inmates

transported in a 15-‐passenger van will be required to wear

seat belts.

Mandatory

Policy requires that all inmates being transported in a 15-‐ passenger van will be required to wear seat belts, therefore it

is not an option.

Yes None at this time.

N/A N/A Yes

Discretionary Discretionary Yes

Executive staff have approved the use of seat belts for all transports utilizing vans.

Waiting for policy to be signed by the Executive Director before it is official.

Mandatory Discretionary

Discretionary based on the inmates mental health status as

we have had inmaets attempt to strangle themselves with

their seat belts.

Yes N/A

Mandatory Mandatory Yes

If your Department uses seat belt restraints when transporting inmates, is their use by inmates mandatory or discretionary with the inmate?

If your Department uses seat belt restraints when transporting inmates, is their use by inmates mandatory or discretionary with the transporting

officer(s)?

Is transporting staff required to use seat belt restraints during

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officer(s)?

inmate transports?

Mandatory required to wear a seatbelt, it In cases where inmate is would be mandatory

Mandatory passengers and drivers to use State law requires front seat seat belts

Yes

State law requires front seat passengers and rivers to use seat

belts

We do not require use of seat belts in vans as the officers would have to enter the compartment with the inmates and lean

over them to apply the seat belts. This places officers in danger.

Louisiana traffic laws specify that all occupants of passenger cars, vans or trucks

having a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or less, must have a safety belt fastened when the vehicle is in forward motion. This law excludes transportation

buses.

Mandatory Mandatory State law requires the use of

seat belts Yes

Seat belts are not used on pregnant inmates or inmates who have medical

documentation indicating a physical condition that would exempt them from

seat belt restraints. These individuals would be transported in a vehicle equipped

to handle the speical condition.

Discretionary Discretionary Yes

Mississippi Department of Corrections policy and the State Fleet Management Manual mandates that seatbelts be worn.

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officer(s)?

inmate transports?

N/A N/A Yes

Only the vehicle driver is required to

wear a seat belt. Mandatory For vehicles so equipped with

seat belts. Mandatory

For vehicles equipped with seat

belts. Yes

For vehicles equipped with seat

belts.

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State/City:

Alabama

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

officer(s)?

inmate transports?

Mandatory

Seat belts are used when transporting inmates in handicapped/wheelchair accessible vans. The seat belt

assists in keeping the inmate positioned in the upright position during the transport. Some inmates are not able to do so on their own due to their

medical condition. It is mandatory for handicapped/wheelchair

accessible vans. It is mandatory for Type B transports if the seat belt is

available in the vehicle.

Mandatory

The transporting officers are required to use the seat belt

restraints as required by Departmental Policy. They do

not have discretion to not comply with the requirements.

Yes

The driver and front seat passenger is required to use seat

belts.

N/A N/A Yes

Oklahoma law requires all front seat occupants wear

seat belts.

The central transportation unit has had the procedure of removing all passenger seat

belts from transport vans. This practice will no longer continue going forward. Our MCI transport buses do not come from the

factory with passenger seat belts. The responses for this questionaire only

reflects the practice of the central transportation unit and not individual

facility transportation units.

Mandatory Mandatory Yes necessitates staff State law

use seat belts.

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officer(s)?

inmate transports?

N/A N/A Yes

Mandatory

Per Washington state law, if seat belts are available (part of

the vehicle when purchased) their use is mandatory.

Mandatory Yes Seat belt use is mandatory in Washington

Mandatory -‐ 23 Mandatory -‐ 23 Yes -‐ 32

Discretionary -‐ 3 Discretionary -‐ 3 No -‐ 0