Every inmate transport carries risk — to staff, budgets and public trust. Yet too often, agencies treat extraditions as one-off events instead of planned operations. This four-part series explores why readiness matters and how a structured approach can turn uncertainty into control.
Part one looked at why every agency needs an extradition readiness plan, part two looked at how agencies can control overtime through strategic transport planning and part three looked at how technology can improve transport safety. In this final installment, we look at the critical things every transport officer must know before hitting the road.
By John Comissiong
An extradition transport seems straightforward: pick up a detainee, transport them to another jurisdiction, deliver them safely. But experienced officers know that the simplicity is deceptive. Every transport carries the potential for medical emergencies, escape attempts, vehicle failures, weather emergencies and confrontations with unpredictable individuals — often while operating alone, far from backup, in unfamiliar territory.
The question isn’t whether something will go wrong eventually. The question is whether your officers will be ready when it does.
Many officers assigned to transport duties receive excellent training in basic corrections procedures but often lack preparation specific to the unique challenges of transport operations. Here are seven critical things every transport officer must know before hitting the road.
1. How to recognize and respond to medical emergencies
Medical emergencies during transport are among the highest-risk situations officers face. Unlike facility-based staff who can immediately call for medical assistance, transport officers may be hours from the nearest hospital with a detainee in medical crisis.
Officers must be able to recognize the early warning signs of common medical emergencies: diabetic crises (confusion, excessive sweating, tremors), heart attacks (chest pain, shortness of breath, pain radiating to the arm), strokes (facial drooping, slurred speech, weakness on one side), and drug withdrawal or overdose symptoms.
Beyond recognition, officers need clear decision-making frameworks:
- When does a situation require diverting to the nearest hospital versus continuing to the destination?
- What immediate interventions can be provided safely?
- Who needs to be notified, and in what order?
One often-overlooked consideration: long periods of restraint and sitting create their own medical risks. Officers should understand positional asphyxia, deep vein thrombosis and circulation problems that can develop during extended transports. Regular checks and frequent stops aren’t just policy requirements — they’re critical safety measures.
Officers should also know how to communicate effectively with emergency medical services. EMS needs specific information quickly:
- What symptoms are present?
- How long have they been occurring?
- Does the detainee have known medical conditions?
- What medications have they taken?
Providing clear, concise information can significantly improve medical outcomes.
2. When a transport requires two officers
Single-officer transports are common and often appropriate, but some situations demand two officers. Knowing the difference can prevent dangerous situations.
Distance is one factor. Transports exceeding certain durations create fatigue risks that make two officers safer. But risk assessment of the detainee is equally important. Consider whether the detainee has a history of violence, escape attempts, serious mental health issues or medical conditions requiring monitoring, or if it is a high-profile case that might attract outside intervention. Additional considerations should be given to gang affiliation or a life sentence detainee with thoughts of “nothing to lose.”
Agencies should have clear criteria for two-officer transports, but officers also need to trust their judgment. If something about a transport feels wrong, that instinct deserves attention. The cost of adding a second officer is minimal compared to the cost of a serious incident.
3. De-escalation techniques for confined spaces
De-escalation in a transport vehicle requires different approaches than in a facility. The confined space intensifies every interaction, and officers have fewer options for creating distance or changing the environment.
Officers need to understand how confinement affects detainee behavior. Some people panic in enclosed spaces. Others become more aggressive when they feel trapped. Recognizing the difference between anxiety-driven behavior and calculated aggression helps officers respond appropriately.
Verbal de-escalation becomes even more critical in vehicles. Tone matters more than words. A calm, steady voice can prevent escalation even when a detainee is becoming agitated. Officers should practice specific phrases and approaches that work in high-stress situations.
One often-overlooked skill is recognizing manipulation attempts. Experienced detainees know various tactics to create escape opportunities — claiming medical emergencies, provoking officers into making mistakes, creating distractions. Officers need training in distinguishing legitimate concerns from manipulation while still responding appropriately to real issues.
Cultural awareness also plays a role. Long-distance transports often cross cultural and linguistic boundaries. Basic understanding of different communication styles can prevent misunderstandings that escalate unnecessarily.
4. Vehicle inspection and security procedures
Before accepting any detainee, officers must thoroughly inspect the transport vehicle. This isn’t just policy — it’s personal safety.
A proper vehicle inspection includes checking for contraband or weapons that might have been hidden by previous detainees or by accomplices. Officers should know the common hiding spots: under seats, in door panels, behind trim pieces, in seat cushion seams and inside headrests.
After a transport, documenting vehicle condition protects both the officer and the agency. If damage or contraband is discovered later, clear documentation of the vehicle’s condition before and after the transport establishes accountability.
Officers should also understand secondary security measures beyond restraints:
- When should additional security equipment be used?
- What vehicle modifications improve security?
- How do you balance security with the requirement to transport detainees humanely?
One practical consideration many officers learn the hard way: always know where your vehicle keys are and have a backup plan if keys are lost or compromised during a transport.
5. Fatigue management and long-distance driving safety
Fatigue is one of the most underestimated dangers in transport operations. Officers who would never drink and drive often underestimate how dangerous it is to drive while severely fatigued — yet the impairment can be similar.
Officers must be able to recognize dangerous fatigue in themselves: difficulty focusing, microsleeps, missing exits or turns, and the inability to remember the last few miles driven. By the time these symptoms appear, it’s often already unsafe to continue.
Effective trip planning is critical. Before leaving, officers should identify rest stops, meal breaks and backup accommodations in case weather or vehicle problems create delays. Having a plan reduces the temptation to “push through” when conditions deteriorate.
Officers also need clear protocols for managing detainee needs during long transports:
- How often should bathroom breaks be provided?
- What about meals?
- How do you balance humane treatment with security during these necessary stops?
One aspect that’s often not addressed is the stress of being solely responsible for a detainee over many hours. This mental exhaustion is real and affects decision-making, even when an officer is not physically driving.
6. Emergency communication protocols
When something goes wrong during a transport, communication can mean the difference between a manageable situation and a disaster.
Officers must know how to reach emergency assistance quickly, regardless of where they are. This includes knowing how to provide location information when you’re on an unfamiliar highway, how to request appropriate resources and what information emergency responders need.
Check-in procedures aren’t just administrative requirements — they’re safety mechanisms. If an officer misses a scheduled check-in, someone should notice and investigate. Officers need to know their agency’s procedures and follow them consistently.
For interstate transports, officers should understand the communication chain:
- Who at the sending facility needs updates?
- Who at the receiving facility should be notified of delays?
- When should supervisors be contacted?
- What situations require immediate notification versus routine updates?
Having backup communication methods is essential. If your primary radio or phone fails, how will you communicate? Officers should understand how to request assistance through local agencies if needed.
7. What to document (and how to document it)
Documentation protects officers, agencies and the integrity of the justice system — but only if it’s done correctly. Always be sure to answer who, what, when, where and why.
Officers need to understand what events require documentation beyond the basic transport information. Any use of force, any medical concerns or interventions, any deviations from standard procedures, any unusual statements or behavior by the detainee, and any vehicle problems or delays should all be documented.
How you document matters as much as what you document. Officers should learn to record facts objectively without editorial commentary. “Detainee became verbally aggressive and threatened to harm himself” is objective documentation. “Detainee threw a tantrum like a child” is editorial and creates liability.
Timing is also important. Critical incidents, medical interventions and use of force should be documented immediately. Other details can wait until after the transport is complete. Officers need guidance on these distinctions.
Photographs can be valuable documentation tools. Officers should know when to document conditions photographically, such as pre-existing injuries on detainees, vehicle damage, property condition and anything that might be disputed later. Modern smartphones make this easy, but officers need clear policies about how these images should be managed and stored.
Remember, documentation you create may be read in court three years later. Write every report assuming it will be read aloud to a jury, with you on the witness stand and a lawyer asking you to explain what you meant.
Beyond the checklist
These areas aren’t just a training checklist — they’re the foundation of professional transport operations. Officers who are thoroughly prepared in these areas handle unexpected situations better, make better decisions under pressure, and represent their agencies with confidence and competence.
But knowledge alone isn’t enough. These skills require practice. Medical response techniques need to be rehearsed, not just studied. Defensive tactics need to be physically practiced in realistic scenarios. Communication protocols need to be used consistently, not just memorized.
Agencies that invest in comprehensive training in these critical areas are investing in safety, professionalism and outcomes that reflect well on everyone involved. Transport officers deserve preparation that matches the responsibility they carry every time they take custody of a detainee and head out on the road.
About the author
John Comissiong is the president of Security Transport Services, Inc., a national leader in secure prisoner transport. He has more than 25 years of experience in leadership, logistics, and public safety operations and is dedicated to helping law enforcement agencies improve compliance, efficiency, and safety in prisoner transport operations. Learn more: ReadinessPlan.us.
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