Another Escape! Who is to blame?
Don't let the public be put at risk!
As I sit here the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation just got another black eye from an escape earlier this week. I am sure the attempt to assign blame is in absolute full motion. At the tactical level it seems clear but from a supervisory, managerial level and beyond, things are less cut and dried.
In the name of alleged rehabilitation, the entire department has decided that kindness equals rehabilitation and accountability equals oppression. To really understand one must recognize that inmates are anti-social criminal personality types. End of discussion. This does not mean that we cannot work on rehabilitation but there are very specific reasons why we want what happens between officers and offenders to be well structured and not something destructive to the boundaries and prescribed roles of those tasked with law enforcement duties within correctional facilities.
Eroding those roles normalizes complacency and sets the table for tragedy and the diminishment of trust that we owe to the public and inmates alike.
Having said that, this article is going to deal with the frontline issues and what we all saw in the escape from custody.
The name of the inmate in question is Cesar Hernandez and he was being transported to the Kern County Courthouse and upon arrival bolted from the transport vehicle and has not been seen since. He was in for murder, just so you know!
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So…did those look like shower shoes or flip flops to you? One report I saw mentioned under his jumpsuit he had thermals on.
Alright lets run down the basics of wat you want to do on every transport.
Operational security - It is not always possible to keep inmates in the dark about upcoming outside transports but every effort must be made to do so none the less. In Idaho recently a transport was ambushed after the inmate who had self inflicted wounds was treated and a waiting accomplice shot two of the officers escorting him.
Search - The strip search must be as thorough as possible. Then the inmate should never be allowed to retain or use the clothing he was brought to the transport area with. He or she gets all new clothing, no personal items and only shoes that are difficult to run or climb in and there is no chance to hide something. You also use the metal detectors and any other detection systems you have available. Make sure the vehicle has been searched too.
If possible have a chase car and let local law enforcement know about the transport. You should know where police, highway patrol, hospitals etc are along the way. You should also have gamed what you are going to do in an emergency. Know your policy and procedure and be alert. Always let the facility know your status on arrival and leaving but also that of the local 911 dispatch center.
If there is a secure entrance like at a courthouse of jail, use it! If you can recon the area first by driving by do so. Also contact whatever security is available before you get there. At hospitals for instance they can clear areas and facilitate your ingress and egress. Chances are they are going to put you somewhere out of view immediately. Make sure you know where exits, elevators, stairwells etc are. Now here is the really super duper important part. BEFORE you get the inmate out, make him show you his and and restraints and his leg restraints to the best of his ability. If everything looks good you can get him out and then physically check the restraints and then pat search him or her again, in case he or she managed to find or retrieves something from the mouth or poop chute or whatever. This one tip would have saves many escapes over the years.
On egress, once again search the inmate. Have security facilitate your exit, search the back seat, let everyone know you are returning.
Now I could go on and on into endless detail but I wanted to get this out right away. Guys and gals, I don’t want the public put in danger, I don’t want any of you to get hurt or killed. I understand morale is in the toilet but when its go time, there are not excuses! Pleas like share and subscribe to the Tier Talk videos below!