Topic: Juvenile Jam / Mouth Extractions (Contraband)

Handle with Care is a lot more practical than Mandt, which is what we used to use. Handle with Care has one primary restraint technique, which makes it easier for all staff to follow and remember under pressure.

Topic: Juvenile Jam / Mouth Extractions (Contraband)

I work with juvenile offenders in Alaska. We use Handle With Care for restraints and other physical interventions. Recently, our small Detention Unit ran into a new issue that Handle With Care does not cover. A juvenile was found to be concealing contraband in their mouth during admission. Luckily, there was the arresting officer there, who used some pain commpliance tactics to remove the item (a bag of weed). He placed his fingers in/under his nose and pulled upward to help open his mouth. This eventually worked, but I feel like there must be an easier/safer way to do this. My fear is that this method would lead to easily bitten fingers. Currently we have nothing that covers mouth extractions, but my Superintendent requested that I look into some possible interventions. I have my own ideas (pressure on side of jaw to open, and keeping pressure to keep mouth open during extraction), but I’m sure there are specific technical ways to achieve this safely. What tactics does your facility/unit use? I appreciate any feedback I can get.