E.P.P. 005
LONGWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT
ENFORCEMENT POLICY & PROCEDURE
NUMBER: EPP – 5
SUBJECT: ARREST AND DETENTION
EFFECTIVE: APRIL 10, 2001
REVISED: NOVEMBER 1, 2022
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I. PURPOSE:
The purpose of this directive is to establish police department policy and provide
guidelines pertaining to lawful detention and custodial arrest by officers. General
guidelines as well as special considerations in these areas are outlined. Additional
enforcement directives, non-custodial arrest, discretion and diversion programs, and
juvenile enforcement considerations may be found under those specific headings.
II. DEFINITIONS:
A. Arrest warrant:
An arrest warrant is a court order issued by a judge upon a determination of
probable cause.
B. Capias:
Capias is an order for the arrest of a person that is issued after a case is formally
filed by the state attorney’s office.
C. Physical arrest:
A physical arrest is the procedure through which an officer takes into actual
physical custody and transports an offender to a correctional facility for the
purpose of detention.
D. Probable cause:
Probable cause exists where the facts and circumstances within the arresting
officer’s knowledge and of which they had reasonably trustworthy information,
are sufficient in themselves to warrant a man of reasonable caution in the belief
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than an offense has been or is being committed… we deal with probabilities.
They are the factual and practical considerations of everyday life on which
reasonable and prudent men, not legal technicians, act. Draper v. U.S., 358 U.S.
307(1959)
Probable cause is a fluid concept- turning on the assessment of probabilities in
particular factual contexts- not readily, or even usefully, reduced to a neat set of
legal rules. Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 232 (1983)
Examples of probable cause include a computer hit confirming that a vehicle is
stolen, victim and witness sworn statements, and the odor of marijuana coming
from inside a car.
E. Reasonable suspicion:
Circumstances which reasonably indicate that a violation of Florida laws or City
of Longwood ordinances has been committed, is being committed or is about to
be committed.
III. DETENTION AND SEARCH:
A. The purpose of this chapter is to give enforcement personnel an overview in
regard to the detention and search of an individual. Procedures that are to be
followed when conducting the actual searches of an individual are described
within the Enforcement Policy and Procedure “Search and Seizure”
B. An officer may temporarily detain a person based on reasonable suspicion.
C. The detention must last no longer than is reasonably necessary to confirm or
dispel an officer’s reasonable suspicion that a crime has been, is, or is about to
be committed. These detentions must end when the suspicion is dispelled.
D. In all instances of reasonable suspicion detentions the officer will inform the
individual:
1. The nature or reason for the detention;
2. That he/she is not under arrest and will be duly advised of any status
change as soon as the determination is made; and
3. That he/he will be released as soon as practical to do so.
4. If handcuffs or other restraints are used to secure the individual for
officer safety reasons, the individual will be made aware of why the
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restraining device is being used and that the device will be removed as
soon as practical to do so.
E. When placing an individual in investigative reasonable suspicion detention an
officer may, in accordance with the Stop and Frisk Law; F.S.S. 901.151:
1. Perform a cursory search of the individual, if the officer reasonably
believes that the individual detained is armed with a dangerous
weapon. Said search is limited to a pat down of the outer clothing for
weapons. If an object is felt which could reasonably be a weapon the
officer may seize it.
F. Temporary detention shall not extend beyond the place where it was first
effected or the immediate vicinity thereof and be no more intrusive than
necessary. If there is a victim or witness to the offense for which the
individual(s) is being detained, then those persons may be taken to the location
of the detention to render any identification and the person detained may
continue to be detained awaiting their arrival.
G. Under no circumstances will the officer return a suspect to a crime scene or
location of an offense unless the person detained is placed under arrest or gives
the officer consent to do so.
H. Probable cause to arrest must exist before a person can be placed under arrest
(excluding court orders). If probable cause cannot be determined, or reasonable
period of time for detention has expired and the information requested from
the person has been obtained, the person must be immediately released.
I. If an officer restrains an individual with handcuffs, or any other restraint device,
and subsequently releases them without making an arrest or taking them into
custody for other purposes, a CJIS report documenting the circumstances of
detention, restraint, and release will be submitted. The application of agency
authorized restraint devices alone will not require the completion of a Response
to Resistance (R-2) Review.
IV. ARREST (GENERAL):
A. An officer shall not use unnecessary force in making an arrest. Officers shall use
only such force as is necessary to effect an arrest or other lawful objective.
B. Officers have a responsibility to remain knowledgeable as to the law that
governs arrest, including when and how arrests can be lawfully made. Officers
will remain knowledgeable as to special considerations that must be taken into
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account when handling juvenile offenders (see Enforcement Policy and
Procedure “Juvenile Enforcement Considerations)
C. If an arrest is made outside the jurisdictional boundaries of Seminole County,
the person arrested must be booked into the correctional facility of the county
in which the arrest was made. A supervisor of the sheriff’s office of the county
in which the arrest was made will be notified along with the arresting officer’s
supervisor.
D. Laws and ordinances shall be enforced with equality and impartiality without
regard to race, sex, religion, political affiliation, or social status.
E. Officers shall remain objective and professional in contacts with offenders;
regardless of the nature of enforcement taken.
F. No person shall be arrested but upon probable cause or in direct compliance
with a court order.
G. Kaia Rolle Act set forth in Section 985. 031 F. S. (2021) prohibiting a child
younger than seven years of age from being arrested, charged, or adjudicated
delinquent for a delinquent act or violation of law, unless the violation of law is
a forcible felony as defined in s. 776.08, F. S.
V. ARREST PROCEDURES (GENERAL):
A. Arrest information, criteria for reporting:
1. When a person is taken into physical custody, regardless of the offense
committed, the arrest will be documented by the arresting officer.
Documenting an arrest will consist of:
a. Completing an arrest report; and
b. All corresponding documentation necessary to properly
document the investigation.
B. Use of restraints:
1. The primary purpose in using handcuffs and other restraints is to:
a. Maintain control of an arrested person.
b. Provide safety for the officer, the arrestee and the general
public.
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2. Authorized restraints to be used by enforcement personnel consist of:
a. Double locking handcuffs.
b. Plastic handcuffs (flex cuffs).
c. Leg cuffs.
d. Waist belt restraint.
e. RIPP Hobble.
3. Double locking handcuffs are issued and are to be carried by all
enforcement personnel while in uniform.
a. All double locking handcuffs used shall be manufactured by
Peerless, ASP, or Smith and Wesson and must be hinged or
chain-steel cuffs; utilizing the same key as that issued to all
enforcement personnel.
b. Enforcement personnel in plain-clothes assignment who
manage prisoners shall carry handcuffs.
c. All personnel issued handcuffs will be responsible for the
efficient operation of their handcuffs. Handcuffs must be kept
clean and lubricated to prevent malfunctions during emergency
situations.
4. Handcuffs will be the primary restraining device used in all cases
involving arrest of adults and juveniles age twelve and older by
enforcement personnel with the following exceptions:
a. Other authorized restraints may be employed if multiple arrests
are involved and there are an insufficient number of handcuffs
available.
b. In the event the arrested person is elderly, in advanced stages
of pregnancy, physically disabled, or otherwise injured and the
use of handcuffs or other restraint may cause or aggravate
further injury; the arresting officer may elect not to restrain the
individual, but only if the arrested person poses no escape risk
or threat to himself/herself, the officer or to others.
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c. Handcuffs or restraints will only be used on the body parts of
physically disabled individuals that are not affected by the
disability.
5. Juveniles less than twelve years of age shall not be placed in handcuffs
or other restraints unless they pose an escape risk or danger to
themselves, the officer or others.
6. When only handcuffs or other, authorized wrist restraints are used,
officers will maintain physical control over the arrested person to
prevent injury or escape.
7. Generally, an arrested person will be restrained with their hands behind
their back unless a physical disability or other condition or circumstance
makes alternative restraining methods necessary.
C. Officers of the same sex as the arrested person shall search that person and
take immediate possession of all weapons, evidence and contraband. Officers
arresting persons of the opposite sex shall conduct a pat-down search of outer
garments and personal goods, but shall refrain from searching the person of the
arrested person. Upon delivery to the correctional facility’s sally-port area,
corrections personnel shall be advised by the arresting officer of the limited
search and a corrections officer of the same sex as the arrested person shall
conduct a more thorough search.
D. Officers receiving an arrested person from another officer shall be responsible
for re-searching the arrested person.
E. Officers shall search the scene of an arrest for weapons or evidence that may
have been concealed, dropped or thrown away by the arrested person.
F. Arrested persons shall be transported in accordance with written directives
governing the transport of arrested persons.
G. Restraint use procedures:
1. Handcuffs:
a. The officer will gain control of the individual’s hands utilizing
sound officer safety techniques.
b. Handcuffs will be placed on arrested persons as soon as they
are under control.
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c. All arrested persons shall be handcuffed prior to any search,
except for the noted policy exceptions.
d. All arrested persons will have their wrists cuffed behind their
back and double locked with palms turned outward to minimize
the potential for escape.
e. The officer will check the handcuffs for proper fit to ensure that
escape is not possible (too loose) or no injuries are incurred (too
tight).
f. Handcuffs will not be removed from arrested persons until the
arrestee is in custody of correctional staff, at a law enforcement
facility and necessary for investigative purposes or medically
necessary and the officer believes there are no safety risks.
2. Flex cuffs:
Note: Flex cuffs will only be used when issued handcuffs are not
available or in the event of emergency or mass arrests.
a. The arrested person will have their hands placed behind their
back.
b. The officer will gain control of the individual’s hands utilizing
sound officer safety techniques.
c. The officer will then place the flex cuffs on the individual’s
wrists and latch them into place.
d. The officer will check the flex cuffs for proper fit to ensure that
escape is not possible (too loose) or no injuries are incurred
(too tight)
3. Leg cuffs:
Note: Leg cuffs will only be used in those circumstances where the
arrested person poses a control problem or escape threat to the officer.
Leg cuffs shall not be used as a routine method of securing arrested
persons.
a. Prior to placing the leg cuffs on any person, they should be
handcuffed according to the procedures outlined above.
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b. Once the individual is handcuffed, one officer will maintain
control of the individual, while another officer places the leg
cuffs on the ankles of the individual. The officer will then latch
them into place.
c. The officer will check the cuffs for proper fit to ensure that
escape is not possible (too loose) or no injuries are incurred (too
tight).
d. The officer will then double lock the cuffs.
4. Waist belt restraint:
Note: Waist belt restraints are to be used in conjunction with, and not
in place of handcuffs. Waist belt restraint should be utilized if the
arrested person poses a control problem or escape threat to the
officer. The waist restraint belt can be utilized to prevent the arrested
person from moving his/her hands from behind the back to the front,
while handcuffed.
a. The individual; shall be handcuffed behind the back prior to
fastening the waist restraint belt around their waist.
b. Once the individual is handcuffed, the belt should be installed
with the silver D-ring being located in the center of the
individual’s back.
c. A second set of handcuffs will be attached to the D-ring.
(Typically the handcuffs will opened on one side and fed
through the D-ring. This will not work with the hinge type
handcuffs)
d. Once secured to the D-ring, the second set of handcuffs will be
placed on the individual’s wrist and the initial set will be
removed.
e. The handcuffs will be checked for proper fit to ensure that
escape is not possible (too loose) or no injuries are incurred (too
tight).
f. The handcuffs shall be double locked.
5. Ripp Hobble:
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Note: The Ripp Hobble will only be utilized by officers who have been
properly trained in its use. The Ripp Hobble shall never be used to
“hog tie” or “suit case” a person. The hobble will only be used in a
method consistent with the training provided to officers by the
Longwood Police Department.
The Ripp Hobble shall be used in conjunction with and not in place of
handcuffs. It is a tool, which is to be used to assist the officer with
controlling a subject who is exhibiting violent or dangerous behavior
while in handcuffs.
The Ripp Hobble shall be used in one of four ways:
TARP (Total appendage restraint position):
a. While subject is in a seated position, cross subject’s ankles, and
place loop around the ankles.
b. Tighten the hobble loop and lock hobble clip in place.
c. Attach hobble snap to cuffs behind back with full extension of
strap. Do not shorten strap.
d. The subject shall always be in an up-right, seated position and
under constant officer observation.
e. Never allow subject to lay on side, stomach or chest.
6. Restraining legs for walking:
a. Place loop around both legs of the subject and bring the loop to
the subject’s knees.
b. Tighten the loop around the legs, just above the knees.
c. Hold free end of hobble in one hand.
d. Hold subject’s elbow with your other hand (make sure your gun
side is away from the subject).
e. Assist subject walking slowly.
7. De-cuffing violent subjects:
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a. Subject’s hands should be handcuffed behind back. Place loop
around both arms and slide the loop till it is just above the
subject’s elbow.
b. Slowly pull arms together until you feel the subject cannot
escape the loop.
c. Tie half hitch knot at clip.
d. Remove handcuffs with assist officer present.
e. Remove hobble, pushing subject away slightly to increase
reactionary gap.
8. Rear seat application and transport:
a. Raise subject’s feet out door of vehicle, forcing them to lay back
on seat.
b. Cross subject’s ankles, place the loop over the ankles and close
the loop.
c. Turn subject forward placing their feet in the floor board.
d. Pull free end around door pillar and inside front door. Close rear
door and secure the free end of the strap in the front passenger
compartment.
e. If needed, the strap can be adjusted by one extra wrap around
subject’s legs before pulling the free end outside the door.
VI. ARRESTS WITHOUT WARRANT:
A. Arrests without a warrant may be made under certain circumstances by an
officer and when probable cause exists to do so. Searches conducted under
these circumstances are limited in scope and may only be conducted on the
person being arrested and the area that was in the immediate control of the
person prior to arrest, unless a search warrant was obtained that would expand
the scope of the search. Searches incident to arrest may be conducted in order
to:
1. Protect the officer;
2. Prevent the person from escaping;
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3. Discover the evidence of the crime.
B. A warrantless arrest may be made by an officer if there is probable cause to
believe that a felony has been or is being committed and the person to be
arrested is the perpetrator of that felony.
C. Felony warrantless arrest in a residence (special considerations):
It is necessary that one or more of the following circumstances exists before an
arrest without a warrant may be made inside a residence:
1. The arrest must be made immediately for the protection of any person,
including the officer, and that the delay caused by obtaining a warrant
will jeopardize the safety of innocent persons;
2. The arrest must be made immediately to prevent the successful flight of
the suspect;
3. The arrest must be made pursuant to lawful entry to prevent the
destruction of evidence;
4. The arrest is made by the officer in fresh pursuit of a felony suspect (the
officer has maintained visual contact with the suspect during the
suspect’s flight to avoid arrest) and the delay caused in obtaining an
arrest warrant will jeopardize the safety of innocent persons or allow
the successful flight of the suspect;
5. The arrest is made for felony committed in the officer’s presence in a
residence to which the officer has already been lawfully admitted;
6. The arrest is made after the officer has been lawfully admitted to the
residence by consent of a person fifteen years of age or older and who
appears to have the authority to allow admittance (i.e., the person lives
there) and such consent was obtained without the use of deception or
coercion;
7. The arrest is made when the officer develops probable cause for an
arrest after having already been legally admitted to the residence.
D. Ordinarily, if a crime is a misdemeanor or violation of a city ordinance, an officer
may not make a warrantless arrest unless the misdemeanor or ordinance
violation was committed in the officer’s presence. However, there are specified
instances, as defined in Florida State Statutes, where an officer, with probable
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cause, may arrest a person on a misdemeanor without a warrant and without
observing the crime occurring.
E. When making an arrest without a warrant, the officer should:
1. Verbally tell the person that he/she is under arrest and the reason why
the individual has been placed under arrest;
2. Properly handcuff and search the person;
3. Advise the person of the charges;
4. Advise the person of his/her constitutional rights (Miranda Warning)
before beginning any questioning where the answers given could be
self-incriminating;
5. Secure the scene for evidence and/or other considerations, if necessary;
6. Transport the person to the correctional facility for booking (or, if
necessary, to some other location for further questioning), and release
the person to corrections personnel;
7. Complete and submit the arrest report.
F. All offenders currently under state or county supervision, who commit a new
law violation or in some instances violate a condition of their probation, shall be
charged with violation of probation (VOP), in accordance with F.S.S. 948.06(1)
Note: The separate violation of probation (VOP) charge shall be completed
under a different case number than the new law violation, so the original
judge placing the offender on probation will receive the violation of probation
(VOP) charge, rather than the arraignment judge hearing the new law
violation.
1. Out of state VOP offender:
a. At this writing, procedures for offenders who are supervised by
a state, other than Florida, have not been established. In these
instances, proceed accordingly with any new law violation and
request a “no bond” status along with a 72 hour hold based on
their out of state probation, to ensure that the offender is
remanded in custody and allowing enough time for probation
officers to conduct the necessary research into the case.
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2. State of Florida – Department of Corrections offender:
a. To determine whether or not an offender is under supervision
by the State of Florida – Department of Corrections, a CAFÉ
search and an FCIC query must be conducted.
b. CAFÉ entries on all sexual offenders and predators registered
with SCSO after January 1, 2004, and all other felons registered
after August 25, 2004 will include the court ordered conditions
of probation.
c. The FCIC response will include two dates, a “start super” and
“probation expires”, to indicate when supervision began and
when it will end, respectively. If the offender has violated one
or more of the existing conditions of probation and/or the new
law violation has occurred between these two established
dates, the offender shall be charged with VOP and
placed on a “no bond” status, until his/her hearing at initial
appearance.
3. Seminole County Probation offender:
a. To establish whether or not an offender is under the supervision
of Seminole County Probation, a CAFÉ search must be
conducted.
b. A CAFÉ inquiry will reveal the offender’s current misdemeanor
probation status and any conditions or sanctions specifically
related to his/her probation status.
c. All probationers under supervision by county probation are
assigned a “county probation number” for their case number,
and it is formatted as follows: 20xxCP00xxxx
d. The procedure for querying CAFÉ is as follows:
1. Under agency ORI select county probation. This will
limit the number of responses to only those cases
supervised by Seminole County Probation.
2. Under people/business tab, enter last name and first
name of offender. “Wild cards” may be used if the
spelling of the name is in doubt.
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3. Select the desired case to view or edit.
4. When the case data appears on screen, select
“probation” on the tree (upper left of screen), then the
administration tab, client status box to see if the case is
an active capacity, or has been terminated.
5. If the case is active, click on the conditions tab to review
the probation conditions for that particular case.
e. If it is determined that the offender is currently under the
supervision of Seminole County Probation and he/she has
committed a new law violation and/or violated one of the
existing conditions of probation, the offender shall be charged
with VOP and placed on a “no bond” status pending his/her
initial appearance. A 72 hour hold should also be requested in
the narrative.
f. We recognize that unless self-reported by the offender and
verified by the involved agency, it would be difficult to
determine whether or not an offender is being supervised by a
county probation office, other than Seminole County Probation.
4. Mandatory reciprocal communications between involved agencies:
a. In all instances there must be reciprocal communications
between the supervising agency and the arresting agency. The
investigating officer is required to notify the supervising agency
and the probation officer, if listed, of the arrest and related
charges by email and/or facsimile. A probation
notification form is available at the John E. Polk Correctional
Facility.
b. Seminole County Probation Officers should be contacted
directly using their email addresses. The supervising officer’s
identity may be learned by conducting a CAFÉ search. His/her
full name will be located under the “probation” files, just above
“tabs”. All county employees’ email addresses are listed as
follows: first name initial (no punctuation), full last name
@seminolesheriff.org Example:jdoe@seminolesheriff.org
c. State of Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) may be
contacted either by fax or email. The fax number for the DOC
Sanford office is (407) 330-6924 A probation notification
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facsimile form is available at John E. Polk Correctional Facility.
The DOC investigating officer may also be reached via email to
DOC at harris.katherine@mail.dc.state.fl.us
5. Arrest reports completed for the VOP must include the following
additional information in the narrative:
a. Confirmation the subject’s probation is active.
b. The conditions of probation which were violated.
c. The county where the probation was enacted.
d. The original crime and criminal case number related to the
probationary case.
VII. ARRESTS WITH WARRANT:
The purpose of this chapter is to define the basic procedures for arresting persons for a
warrant.
A. Arrest of fugitives:
1. Any suspect with a warrant should be treated with extreme caution.
Arrests should not be made until the arrival of an assisting office, if
possible.
2. Upon stopping or detaining a suspect, an officer may request a warrants
check from the telecommunications section upon receiving some form
of identification from the suspect.
3. The telecommunications section will be advised of the suspect’s name
and date of birth or other information as may be applicable. The
telecommunications section’s dispatcher handling the request should
be told whether or not the officer is in actual contact with the suspect.
4. If the telecommunications section ascertains that a warrant exists on
the suspect; for the purpose of summoning an assisting officer they will
transmit the following information across all radio channels:
“Bravo two at Grant and Church;
1043, 10-29P, signal (18 or 19)”
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Another officer will respond and assist the arresting officer with
securing the subject. The telecommunications section will not broadcast
any warrant information until the officer has requested the information.
5. The arrest warrant or teletype should contain at least the following
information:
a. Subject’s name
b. Subject’s date of birth or age
c. Charge
d. Date of warrant
e. Warrant number
f. Bond amount (if any)
g. Judge’s name, court, and location of the issuing court
h. Extradition considerations.
6. If the warrant indicates the issuing court will not extradite the person
the officer must release the person.
7. The warrant will be confirmed with the entering agency, via dispatch,
prior to the subject being arrested and transported to the correctional
facility.
8. After the suspect is arrested the officer shall:
a. Verbally tell the person that he/she is under arrest and the
reason why the individual has been placed under arrest;
b. Search the person again, if necessary;
c. Advise the person of his/her constitutional rights (Miranda
Warning) before beginning any questioning where the answers
given could be self-incriminating;
d. Secure the scene for any evidence and/or other considerations,
if necessary;
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e. Transport the person to the correctional facility and release the
person to the corrections personnel;
f. Complete and submit a detention affidavit as described below.
9. Detention affidavit:
Detention affidavits are to be completed on the computers provided at
the John E. Polk Correctional Facility;
NOTE: The arresting officer will enter only the information described
above in the “charge” and “narrative” sections. The arrested person
will not be charged with the crime for which the warrant was issued.
10. A copy of the teletype confirming the warrant will be obtained by the
arresting officer and attached to the detention affidavit.
11. Upon delivery of the person to the correctional facility, the arresting
officer will notify corrections personnel that the person was arrested on
a warrant.
VIII. ABSENTEE BOOKING:
If a person has been placed under arrest but requires admission to a hospital before
being booked at the correctional facility, the following absentee booking procedure will
be followed:
A. If the person arrested is charged with a misdemeanor and meets the eligibility
requirements, a Notice to Appear (summons) will be issued.
B. If the person arrested is charged with a felony, or is charged with a
misdemeanor and is not eligible to be issued with a Notice to Appear
(summons), the arresting officer will complete an arrest report as if the person
was being booked at the correctional facility.
C. The narrative will state the circumstances necessitating the hospitalization and
the name of the medical facility where the person arrested is being held.
D. The arresting officer will notify the medical facility’s officials that the patient is
under arrest.
E. The supervisor of the arresting officer will notify the correctional facilities on-
duty commander of the arrest so that a correctional officer may be furnished to
take possession of the arrestee.
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F. When relieved by corrections personnel, the arresting officer will deliver the
arrest report to the correctional facility and turn the arrest package copies over
to the reviewing supervisor for normal distribution.
G. The arrestee should be made to make every effort to be responsible for any and
all medical bills they may incur.
IX. PRIVILEDGES AND IMMUNITIES:
A. Diplomatic immunity:
1. Diplomatic immunity, a principal of international law, is broadly defined
as the freedom from local jurisdiction accorded to duly accredited
diplomatic officers, their families and servants. Employees of a
diplomatic mission are entitled to the same immunities under current
U.S. law (22 U.S.C. 254 (a) et seq.) if they are not nationals of, or
permanently resident in, the receiving country.
2. Associated with this personal diplomatic immunity us the inviolability
enjoyed by the premises of the mission of the sending state and the
private residence of a diplomatic agent, his property, papers and
correspondence.
B. Diplomatic officers:
1. Ambassadors and ministers are the highest ranking diplomatic
representatives of a foreign government.
2. Other diplomatic titles are minister counselor, counselor, first secretary,
second secretary, third secretary, and attaché. These officials are
located either in Washington D.C. or New York City. Diplomatic officers,
their families, official staff and servants who are not nationals of or
permanently resident in the receiving country, are protected by
unlimited immunity from arrest, detention, or prosecution with respect
to any civil or criminal offense. No person thus protected shall be
arrested or detained for any reason.
C. Consular officers:
Consular officers are consuls-general, deputy consuls-general, consuls and vice
consuls. They are official representatives of foreign governments. Consular
officers are required to be treated with due respect, and all appropriate steps
are to be taken to prevent any attack on their person, freedom or dignity. They
are entitled to limited immunities:
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1. Under prevailing international law and agreement, a foreign career
consular officer is not liable for arrest or detention pending trial except
in the case of a felony offense that would endanger public safety and
pursuant to the decision by competent judicial authority. A consular
officer’s immunity from criminal jurisdiction is limited to acts performed
in the exercise of consular functions and is subject to court
determination.
2. Traffic citations do not constitute arrest. Consular officers may be issued
traffic citations at the officer’s discretion.
3. Consular archives and documents are inviolable at all times and
wherever they may be found. The official correspondence of the
consular post (all correspondence relating to the consular post and its
functions), is also inviolable.
D. Honorary consuls:
Honorary consuls are appointed to perform functions generally performed by
career consular officers. Honorary consuls are not entitled to personal immunity
from civil and criminal jurisdiction, except when performing acts in the exercise
of consular duties.
E. Confirmation of status:
1. Should it become necessary to confirm or clarify the status of an
individual with respect to the level of immunity, contact should be
made with the Office of Protocol at the State Department Command
Center in Washington D.C.
2. While such confirmation is being made, the individual in question
should not be arrested, but detained under as discreet and tactical
conditions as possible.
3. Official instructions in regard to the person’s detention shall be followed
by the officer without variation.
F. Arrest of foreign nationals – notification of officials:
1. When a citizen of a foreign nation is arrested in the United States, per
the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and/or other bilateral
consular conventions, the arresting law enforcement agency is required
to make notification of the arrest immediately or as soon as practical by
adhering to the following procedures:
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a. Notify the nearest consul or official of that nation or, if this is
unknown;
b. Notify the nation’s embassy in Washington D.C. or, if this is
unknown;
c. During normal business hours contact the United States
Department; or
d. After normal business hours, notify a state judicial official who
shall then try to accomplish (a) or (b) above.
e. This procedure is required only in the case of nations to which
the United States extend diplomatic recognition.
Mandatory notification countries are:
Algeria Antigua and Barbuda Armenia
Azerbaijan Bahamas, The Barbados
Belarus Belize Brunei
Bulgaria China Costa Rica
Cyprus Czech Republic Dominica
Fiji Gambia, The Georgia
Ghana Grenada Guyana
Hong Kong Hungary Jamaica
Kazakhstan Kiribati Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan Malaysia Malta
Mauritius Moldova Mongolia
Nigeria Philippines Poland
Romania Russia St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia St Vincent/Grenadines Seychelles
Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia
Tajikistan Tanzania Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan
Tuvalu Ukraine United Kingdom
Uzbekistan Zambia Zimbabwe
2. Steps to follow when a foreign national is arrested or detained
regardless of their immigration status:
a. Determine the foreign national’s country. Normally, this is the
country on whose passport or other travel document the
foreign national travels.
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b. If the foreign national’s country is not on the mandatory
notification countries list:
1. Offer without delay to notify the foreign national’s
consular officials of the arrest/detention by utilizing
“statement 1” listed below.
2. If the foreign national asks that the consular notification
be given, notify the nearest consular officials of the
foreign national’s country without delay.
c. If the foreign national’s country is on the list of mandatory
notification countries:
1. Notify that country’s nearest consular officials, without
delay, of the arrest/detention in accordance with
section IX (F) of this Enforcement Policy and Procedure.
2. Tell the foreign national that you are making this
notification by utilizing “statement 2” listed below.
d. Keep a written record of the provision of notification and
actions taken by attaching same to the arrest package
forwarded to the records section. Also, document the provision
of notification and actions taken in the narrative arrest report
narrative.
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Statement 1:
For all foreign nationals except those from list countries
As a non-U.S. citizen who is being arrested or detained, you are entitled to have us notify your
country’s consular officers here in the United States of your situation. You are also entitled to
communicate with your consular officers. A consular officer may be able to help you obtain legal
representation, and may contact your family and visit you in detention, among other things. If
you want us to notify your consular officers, you can request this notification now, or at any
time in the future. Do you want us to notify your consular officers at this time?
Statement 2:
For foreign nationals from list countries:
Because of your nationality, we are required to notify your country’s consular officers here in
the United States that you have been arrested or detained. We will do this as soon as possible.
In addition, you are entitled to communicate with your consular officers. You are required to
accept their assistance, but your consular officers may be able to help you obtain legal
representation, and may contact your family and visit you in detention, among other things.
G. U.S. senators and U.S. representatives
United States senators and United States representatives shall in all cases,
except “treason” “breach of the peace” and felony charges, be privileged from
arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective houses and in
going to and returning from the same.
H. U.S. mail drivers and public transit operators:
United States mail vehicle drivers and public transport operators who commit
minor violation of the law will not be taken into custody, but issued a citation to
appear in court. If an arrest is necessary due to the nature of the offense, the
officer will notify the arrestee’s supervisor for approval to release the vehicle to
competent authority at the scene. If practical, the subject may be accompanied
to the nearest post office or public transit depot to leave the vehicle.
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SUMMARY OF DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES
DIPLOMATIC
CATEGORY
May be
arrested
or
detained
Search of
residence
to include
hotel
Search of
automobile
May be issued
a traffic
citation
May be arrested for
DUI
Family
members
DIPLOMATIC
AGENT NO NO NO
YES
May not be
compelled to
sign citation or
arrested for
failure to sign.
NO
YOU MAY NOT
1. Compel submission
to sobriety test.
2. Physically restrain
unless he’s a danger to
himself or others.
3. Search or seize the
vehicle he’s driving.
4. Impound or boot the
vehicle.
FULL
IMMUNITY
MEMBERS OF
DIPLOMATIC
ADMIN AND
TECH STAFF
NO NO NO
YES
May not be
compelled to
sign citation or
arrested for
failure to sign.
NO
YOU MAY NOT
1. Compel submission
to sobriety test.
2. Physically restrain
unless he’s a danger to
himself or others.
3. Search or seize the
vehicle he’s driving.
4. Impound or boot the
vehicle.
FULL
IMMUNITY
SERVICE STAFF
YES YES YES YES YES NO IMMUNITY
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CONSULAR
CATEGORY
May be
arrested or
detained
Search of
residence
to include
hotel
Search of
Automobile
May be issued a
traffic citation
May be arrested for
DUI
Family
members
CAREER
CONSULAR
OFFICIALS
YES YES NO
YES
May not be
compelled to
sign citation or
arrested for
failure to sign.
NO
YOU MAY NOT
1. Compel
submission to
sobriety.
2. Physically restrain
unless he’s a danger
to himself or others.
3. Search or seize
the vehicle he’s
driving.
4. Impound or boot
the vehicle.
NO IMMUNITY
HONORARY
CONSULAR
OFFICIALS
YES YES YES YES
NO
YOU MAY
1. Transport to DUI
testing facility,
where he can
recover.
2. Call a friend or
relative to pick him
up.
3. Call a taxi.
4. Take him home.
NO IMMUNITY
CONSULAR
EMPLOYEES
YES YES YES YES YES NO IMMUNITY