Chapter 5 – Adult Custody and Security Operations

51020.12.2 Extractions

• An extraction is the involuntary removal of an inmate from an area and usually occurs when the inmate is in a confined area such as a cell, holding cell, shower, or small exercise yard.

• Extractions can be conducted as a controlled or immediate use of force. Except in the case of an imminent threat, extractions shall take place in a controlled manner.

• Controlled extractions occur when no imminent threat exists but an inmate’s refusal to comply with orders and presence in a cell, yard, or other previously identified location poses a threat to safety and security, or disrupts the normal operation of the housing unit, facility, or institution.

• Immediate extractions occur when an imminent threat exists. Some examples of when an immediate extraction may be necessary are: to prevent or stop, great bodily injury and/or serious bodily injury, attempted suicide, self–harm, in-cell assault, or for medical concerns such as an inmate who is non-responsive, convulsing, or seizing.

• The presence of supervisors, managers or health care staff is not required to conduct an immediate extraction.

• If a controlled extraction becomes necessary, extraction team members shall be issued extraction equipment:

  • Riot helmet with protective face shield, protective vest, respirator, elbow and shin protectors, gloves, Kevlar neck protector, and blood borne pathogen protective suit.

  • Protective shield, approximately 22″ wide and 48″ long.

  • Hand-held baton(s), handcuffs, and leg restraints.

  • Video camera(s) with a backup videotape or media and back up batteries.

• If an immediate extraction in a Security Housing Unit/Administrative Segregation Unit becomes necessary, extraction team members shall be issued extraction equipment:

  • Riot helmet with protective face shield, and protective vest.

  • Protective shield, approximately 22″ wide and 48″ long.

  • Hand-held baton(s) and handcuffs.

• The blood borne pathogens protective suit can be used in an immediate extraction if needed. The suit is not required if bodily fluids are not present in sufficient quantities which present a threat to staff.

• The blood borne pathogens protective suits, riot helmets, and protective shields are to be stored in locations that are readily accessible to the staff responding to conduct an immediate cell extraction so as not to delay entry/response.

• Prior to a controlled extraction, the Response Supervisor or Incident Commander shall ensure that the members of the extraction team do not include any staff member who was directly involved in the incident precipitating the need for extracting the inmate.

• The Incident Commander will ensure the Response Supervisor and extraction team members clearly understand their roles, appropriate signals, and are familiar with the departmental use of force policy.

• A briefing, including possible tactics to be used, shall be given to the extraction team by the Response Supervisor and/or Incident Commander. This briefing shall not be video recorded and should be completed away from the presence of any inmates.

• If time permits prior to the actual extraction, a mock extraction may be conducted in a vacated area with participating staff in order to ensure that custodial staff are familiar with their roles during the extraction. Several simulated operations will ensure smoothness, and timing during the actual extraction.

• Prior to the extraction, the Incident Commander will communicate with the officer responsible/assigned to open/close cell doors and establish verbal/non-verbal signals specific to the controlled use of force.

• The Incident Commander shall ensure the control officer understands that only the Incident Commander shall authorize the opening and closing of affected doors.

• For the safety of staff, prior to being removed from a cell, it is preferred that the inmate submit to a visual search. The inmate should remove all clothing, except his/her underwear, and move back far enough from the cell door to allow a visual inspection. The inmate shall be visually inspected from head to toe, front and back. The inmate will run his/her fingers around the inside waistband of his/her underwear. The inmate shall be allowed to retain his/her underwear while being restrained and removed from the cell.

• If the inmate refuses to cooperate with the visual search, but is willing to submit to restraints, the inmate shall be placed in restraints and removed from the cell. The application of restraints shall not be delayed due to the inmate’s refusal to submit to being searched, or to have the inmate remove any clothing. Upon removal from the cell, the inmate should be subjected to search for staff safety.

• Placement of an inmate on the stomach for a short period of time to restrain an inmate is authorized; however once the inmate is exposed to chemical agents and/or if a spit hood/mask is placed on the inmate, staff shall not place the inmate on his/her stomach, or in a position that allows the inmate to end up on his/her stomach, for any period longer than necessary to gain or maintain control.

• The procedure for cell extractions where two inmates are in the cell remains the same as for a single celled inmate with the following additions:

  • Additional team members shall be assigned as determined by the Incident Commander.

  • In the event one of the inmates is compliant with staff’s instructions, and if in the judgment of the Incident Commander it is safe to open the cell door, the inmate shall be removed.

  • If it is unsafe to remove the compliant inmate, they shall be required to remain in the cell and appropriate instructions shall be issued for the duration of the incident.

• The procedures for an extraction from a holding cell, shower, small exercise yard, etc., whether in a segregated housing unit or general population remain the same as cell extractions except as follows:

  • Additional extraction team members or an additional extraction team may be assigned as determined by the Incident Commander.

  • In the event two or more inmates are to be extracted from the same area, at least one additional supervisor shall be assigned.