NCJ Number
166491
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 58 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1996) Pages: 108-110
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the preparation and procedures used by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) in transporting prisoners.
Abstract
Businesses that constantly deal with dangers but manage to operate nearly error-free are known as high-reliability organizations (HRO's). The Prisoner Transportation Branch of the BOP is an example of an HRO. The last inmate escape during transport was more than 8 years ago. Since then, approximately 600,000 inmates have been moved without an escape. HRO's are training-oriented, so as to familiarize workers with every possible scenario. Employees are assigned to low-risk tasks until they show they are ready for higher risk responsibility, with training and problem simulations provided at each step. The BOP sends all officers who will be assigned to escorted trips to "bus school." This intensive training introduces employees to a wide range of scenarios that might occur during inmate transport. Additionally, only senior ranking correctional officers are designated as supervisory officers on escorted trips. Further, the level of security given to a particular transport depends on the level of risk assessed for the particular inmates involved. Sources of security breaches include inmate knowledge of the transportation schedule and route, a failure in communication between transport employees and the control center, and emergency transport to a local hospital. Suggestions are offered for dealing with these situations. 4 references