Chapter 5 – Adult Custody and Security Operations

52110.8 Escape Attempts

• If any aircraft entering an institution’s airspace appears to be involved in an escape attempt, deadly force shall only be used when permitted under Title 15, Section 3268(d).

• Attempts shall be made to direct an aircraft away from inmate occupied and security areas.  Firearms may be discharged as a warning only in a secure facility and only when deadly force is permitted under Title 15, Section 3268(d).

• Firearms shall not be discharged in a direction that would endanger innocent employees or civilians not involved in an escape attempt.

• Firearms shall not be used to bring down or disable an aircraft in flight.

• Once an aircraft being used for an escape attempt has landed, all efforts will be made, including the use of firearms, to disable the aircraft and render it unable to fly.

• Weapons fire may be returned at any attacker within an aircraft when that is the only means available to save the lives of innocent or uninvolved persons.

• Recommended target areas for helicopters are to the transmission and motor located below the large horizontal rotor blades on top of the main cabin, and the rear tail rotor.  Destroying the wheels or propeller of a fixed wing aircraft will disable it.

• Inmates shall be ordered to move away from the aircraft.  Failure to do so is considered an attempt to escape and shall be treated consistent with existing policy.