ART OF STAYING ALIVE - HOW TO ARREST AND SEARCH SUSPECTS AND TRANSPORT PRISONERS (FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT BIBLE, 1978, BY ROBERT A SCANLON - SEE NCJ-49390)

• NCJ Number: 49403
• Author(s): R A SCANLON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: Stoeger Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES FOR THE ARREST AND SEARCH OF SUSPECTS DISCUSSED INCLUDE FRISK, WALL OR VEHICLE SEARCH OF ONE OR MORE SUSPECTS BY ONE OR TWO OFFICERS, AND STRIP SEARCH.

Abstract

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR INCREASING THE PERSONAL SAFETY OF ARRESTING OFFICERS INCLUDE: BEING CAUTIOUS AND TAKING NOTHING FOR GRANTED, SEARCHING AND HANDCUFFING A SUSPECT, KEEPING EMOTIONS UNDER CONTROL, AND IF POSSIBLE, GETTING ASSISTANCE IN SEARCHING A SUSPECT, PATTING THE SUSPECT DOWN AND SEARCHING HIM AWAY FROM THE AREA OF ARREST IN SENSITIVE RIOT-TYPE SITUATIONS, AND KEEPING ATTENTION COMPLETELY FOCUSED ON THE SUSPECT DURING THE SEARCH. DEFINITIONS OF ARREST ARE DISCUSSED. ARREST BY AN OFFICER REQUIRES THE INTENTION AND AUTHORITY TO EFFECT AN ARREST, SEIZURE OF THE PERSON BEING ARRESTED, AND RECOGNITION BY THE SUSPECT THAT HE IS BEING ARRESTED. THE FRISK USUALLY INVOLVES A SEARCH FOR WEAPONS OR CONTRABAND. THE SUSPECT STANDS WITH HIS BACK TO THE OFFICERS, WITH ARMS HELD HIGH AND LEGS SPREAD APART. ONE OFFICER SEARCHES THE SUSPECT BY CRUSHING THE CLOTHING, WHILE THE SECOND OFFICER KEEPS THE SUSPECT COVERED. IN WALL OR VEHICLE SEARCH, ONE OF THE SAFEST SEARCH METHODS, THE SUSPECT IS TOLD TO SPREAD HIS ARMS AND LEGS AND THEN FALL FORWARD ONTO THE VEHICLE OR WALL. THE SUSPECT IS THEN SEARCHED WHILE IN THIS POSITION. THIS METHOD MAY ALSO BE USED IN SEARCHING TWO OR MORE SUSPECTS. SUSPECTS SHOULD BE AN ARM'S LENGTH APART, AND THE COVERING OFFICER SHOULD STAND BEHIND AND BETWEEN THE SUSPECTS. ONE OFFICER ALONE SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT A SEARCH AND ARREST WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. IF THE OFFICER IS ALONE HE SHOULD KEEP HIS GUN DRAWN, AND PLACE THE SUSPECT IN A DISADVANTAGEOUS POSITION. IN ALL POSITIONS THE SUSPECT'S BACK IS TO THE OFFICER AND OTHER POSITIONS MAY INCLUDE KNEELING WITH HANDS INTERLOCKED BEHIND NECK, SITTING WITH LEGS SPREAD AND HANDS INTERLOCKED BEHIND NECK, LYING PRONE ON STOMACH WITH LEGS WIDELY SPREAD AND HANDS WIDELY SPREAD OR INTERLOCKED BEHIND NECK, OR THE POSITION USED IN VEHICLE/WALL SEARCH. STRIP SEARCH REQUIRES A CAREFUL SEARCH OF ALL BODY CAVITIES OF AN UNCLOTHED SUSPECT. STRIP SEARCHES SHOULD ALWAYS BE CONDUCTED IN A CLOSED ROOM AND BY A SEARCHER OF THE SAME SEX AS THE SUSPECT. PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATING THESE TECHNIQUES ACCOMPANY THE TEXT. (JAP)