What should you do if you suspect a detainee is concealing contraband?

• A. Confront the detainee aggressively.
• B. Ignore the suspicion until it escalates.
• C. Increase observation, follow policy for searches, and report to the appropriate supervisor.
• D. Release the detainee.

Answer: (C)

When you suspect contraband in a detainee, safety and proper procedure guide your actions. Start by increasing your observation of the detainee and the surrounding area so you have a clear, documented sense of what’s happening. Then follow the facility’s approved search policy to determine how a search should be conducted—this ensures the method is legal, safe, and consistent with training. Finally, report the suspicion to the appropriate supervisor so they can authorize and direct the search, oversee the process, and document the outcome to maintain accountability and a proper chain of custody for any evidence.

Confronting the detainee aggressively can put staff and detainees at risk, ignoring the suspicion can allow danger to persist, and releasing the detainee unnecessarily misses a potential safety threat and bypasses required procedures.