NCJ Number
203149
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 27 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2003 Pages: 32,34
Date Published
November 2003
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article discusses prisoner transport vehicles.
Abstract
Manufacturers and aftermarket companies work hard to install elements in prisoner transport vehicles that keep prisoners separate from officers whenever possible. A strongly reinforced divider separates the officer compartment from the prisoner area in all prison transport vehicles. Bulletproof glass in the front of some vehicles protects officers from any attack from outside. Mattman Specialty Vehicles’ prisoner transport buses feature a guard station at the head of the vehicle just behind the door, with a desk and a gun locker. This allows an officer to keep an eye on all inmates as they enter the bus. Motor Coach Industries (MCI) buses offer a rear guard position as an option. An officer stationed there can communicate with other officers on the bus via a hardline intercom that cannot be heard by inmates. Inmates can be separated by power-coated steel or aluminum dividers. These separation cells help segregate prisoners for safety, security, and convenience. At the front of the prisoner seating area, a one-person section can be installed to hold an especially difficult inmate. Officers can easily monitor the person inside while keeping him or her securely restrained. All walls are reinforced with steel and windows are made of shatterproof glass and contain various safety features to prevent escape. Most prisoner transport vehicles don’t require any form of attached restraints. While smaller, vans are no less safety-oriented. They provide separation between officers and inmates and often have only a small window or none at all in the prisoner area. A ready-made prisoner transport vehicle can be purchased from a bus or van manufacturer. Sometimes agencies must go to an aftermarket company for custom work that the factory cannot do. Options should be weighed and a decision made based on the number of inmates carried and the length of the trip planned. Vans usually fit the bill for city departments that might need to transport several passengers for a short distance. Buses and custom prisoner transport vehicles can accommodate a large number of inmates.