NEW ALBANY POLICE DEPARTMENT - New Albany, Ohio

the Property Inventory section of the Arrest Packet. Property taken from a detainee for
evidentiary purposes shall be placed on a Property Card and the detainee given a receipt
for the item(s).
All detainees brought into the THF shall have a Preliminary Health Evaluation (PD- 07-
183, see Appendix B) listing any medical conditions or concerns completed by the
arresting officer. This form shall include questions related to a detainee’s mental health
(ie. – suicide screening). If a detainee refuses to answer any of the questions on this
form, this questions/information shall be marked as “Refused.”
If a detainee complains of illness or injury that would require medical attention, a
dispatcher shall be contacted immediately and will initiate an EMS response. Generally,
responding EMS personnel shall enter the THF through the sallyport area. If a detainee
needs to be transported, the arresting officer shall accompany the detainee in the
emergency squad (see Directive 3.3). At no time shall police personnel dispense
medications to a detainee within the THF.
While male and female detainees may be in the THF at the same time, adult males and
adult females shall be separated during processing and holding procedures. In normal
circumstances, only one detainee shall be allowed in the processing area at one time.
Therefore, if a female detainee is being processed, any male detainees in the THF shall
be secured in the west side cell areas (Cells #1, 2, 3, or #4). If a male detainee is being
processed while a female is in the THF, she will be secured in the east side cell areas
(Cells #5 or 6).
C. Searches – All detainees will be thoroughly searched when brought into the THF. Even
when a detainee was searched on the street before transport, he/she shall be researched
after arriving at the THF. Male officers shall inspect male detainees; female
police employees (ie. – dispatcher) shall be utilized to search female detainees. A metal
detector is available in the processing/slating area for officer use and should be used to
detect potentially dangerous metal objects hidden on a detainee.
Strip searches will not be conducted unless the arresting officer has specific, articulable
reasons for doing so. Such reasons could include the present or prior behavior of the
detainee, the nature of the charge, the circumstances of arrest, and any prior
record/convictions. All requests for conducting a strip search shall be approved by both
the on-duty supervisor and the Chief of Police. Strip searches shall be witnessed by at
least two Police Department employees of the same sex as the detainee. Strip searches
shall be conducted only visually and the detainee shall not be touched at any time unless
he/she becomes violent.
As a general rule, Police Department employees shall not conduct body cavity searches.
The only exception to this rule would be an extraordinary situation that would require
written authorization from the Chief of Police and a search warrant issued from the
appropriate Court (ie. – Franklin County Municipal Court). In such rare cases, the City
Attorney shall be contacted as soon as practical to be advised of the situation.
D. Holding – Before placing a detainee in a holding cell the arresting officer shall have the
detainee remove his/her shoes, socks, jewelry, belt and any loose outer-garment (i.e.-
jacket, second shirt). The detainee may be provided a top and/or bottom jump suit,
sandals and blanket, if necessary or requested. Detainees shall at no time be held in the
THF longer than 6 hours. In normal circumstances, a detainee shall only be held as long
as is necessary to complete the processing/slating process. Once this process is
complete, the detainee may be kept in a holding cell until he/she is transported to another
detention/holding facility or until arrangements have been made to be released on bond.
E. Visitation – Because New Albany Police Department’s operates as a THF, formal visiting
hours are not maintained. However, the visitation room can be used for non-contact
interviews (such as attorney/client or clergy/parishioner) on an as-needed basis. All such
visits shall be approved by the on-duty supervisor. An officer will escort any visitor into
the secured visitor room and will make sure that the visitor is escorted out after a set
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