Legal Definitions - black maria

Black maria is a colloquial term referring to a specialized police vehicle, typically a large, secure van, used for the safe and efficient transportation of multiple individuals who are under arrest or have been convicted, usually between a police station, courthouse, or correctional facility.

Here are some examples of how the term applies:

• Scenario: Following a large-scale public protest that escalated into civil disturbance, police officers made numerous arrests for various offenses, including vandalism and resisting arrest.

  Application: A "black maria" would be called to the scene to transport the group of detained individuals from the protest site to the central police station for booking and processing.

  Explanation: This illustrates the use of a "black maria" for securely moving multiple arrested individuals from the point of apprehension to a holding facility.

• Scenario: A high-profile defendant, currently incarcerated at a maximum-security prison, is scheduled to appear in court for a crucial pre-trial hearing.

  Application: The defendant would be transported from the correctional facility to the courthouse in a "black maria" to ensure their secure transit and prevent any escape attempts or external interference.

  Explanation: This demonstrates the vehicle's role in the secure transfer of prisoners between a correctional institution and a courthouse for legal proceedings.

• Scenario: A local county jail is experiencing overcrowding, and several inmates need to be transferred to a larger state penitentiary located in a different jurisdiction.

  Application: A "black maria" would be utilized to move these convicted individuals safely and efficiently from the county jail to the state prison, often over a significant distance.

  Explanation: This example highlights the "black maria's" function in the secure inter-facility transfer of convicted individuals between different correctional institutions.