Editor’s note: This series of articles is intended to be used as quick topic discussions at the beginning of any meeting. They are meant to create discussion among your teams and to get your officers thinking on their feet about training topics, in order to encourage learning and training.
Guidelines (questions to consider) when searching the cell:
Look at the cell from the door: Does it have odor; is it neat; and are there simple violations easy to see (things hanging that block your sight)?
Begin with the bunk:
- Inspect bedding, clothing, clean items- search and place on the mat
- Tri-fold the mat, spin and check the edges, looking and feeling the whole time
- Place only confiscated items on the floor
- Treat the items that will remain with the Detainee as if it is valuable property, because it is.
Keep your searches neat, putting items that belong with the individual detainee on his sleeping area next to the mat.
- Ensure no unauthorized food items in the cell area.
- Inspect toilet and sink area-it should be cleaned and sanitized.
- Inspect walls, fixtures, etc.—no markings or writings are allowed
- Check all screws and bolts and fixtures for tampering to ensure everything is properly secured.
At the end, each cell should look the same:
There should be a neat tri-fold mat with items displayed for easy view from the window, so that any other deputy can easily see the cell has been searched already. This is especially important in a team search to prevent doing the same thing twice.
