In the boarding and seating procedure, how should a law enforcement officer (LEO) be seated relative to a prisoner?

• A. LEO seated at the window away from prisoners.
• B. LEO seated beside the prisoner with the aisle on the far side.
• C. Pre boarded, LEO seated between prisoner and aisle.
• D. LEO seated behind the prisoner with no aisle between.

Answer: (C)

Positioning the officer between the prisoner and the aisle provides the strongest safety and control during boarding. This setup creates a physical barrier that makes it harder for the prisoner to reach the aisle or interact with other passengers, while giving the officer a direct line of sight and immediate access to intervene if needed. Being pre-boarded ensures this protective arrangement is secured before others board, reducing distractions, allowing crew coordination, and letting the officer establish situational awareness from the start. Other configurations tend to place the prisoner closer to the aisle or behind the prisoner, which can diminish the officer’s ability to respond quickly and increase risk of unwanted movement or contact.