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Is there ever a time when Medical can supersede custody?

In this scenario, an inmate who needs to be strip searched is incapacitated enough that he cannot remove his own clothes

Sergeant Johnson is in a bit of a bind. He was just informed by his lieutenant to report to the outside lobby with support staff to bring an inmate (from a residential community release program) into their medical. The inmate is in constant pain and appears to be suffering from a double hernia. Because the inmate can barely stand, he’s placed into a wheelchair and brought into the front lobby.

Once the inmate gets past the secured checkpoint, Sergeant Johnson begins to order his support staff to strip the inmate. The inmate complains that he cannot stand and comply with the order to strip. Medical confirms that the inmate should not stand. Sergeant Johnson states that he needs the inmate to strip before he’s allowed into the facility to see Medical. These are the security measures that must be met before the inmate is allowed access into the facility.

Medical is saying they need to see this inmate right away and, therefore, because of the medical emergency, they’re asking if the strip can be bypassed. Sergeant Johnson knows that the inmate is in pain, but, in his mind, security must come first. He then orders the inmate to strip again and the inmate refuses. The inmate states that he is in so much pain and cannot move.

Now, with medical pushing Sergeant Johnson to see the inmate immediately, and with the inmate not being able to strip on his own, should Sergeant Johnson order his staff to physically strip the inmate (hands on)?

These training scenarios are intended to draw the reader into the discussion and create a repository of differing viewpoints on a single subject. These scenarios are intended for training purposes only. Though the scenarios are drawn from real-world incidents, no one scenario talks about a specific person or place. If you have questions or ideas for a training scenario, email editor@corrections1.com.

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