In APCO, Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials 10-codes, 10-15 means "Prisoner In Custody". It is used to notify dispatch that a subject has been taken into custody and is under control.
Here’s how it might be used in a real-world scenario:
- Officer: "Dispatch, unit 42 has one subject detained."
- Dispatch: "Unit 42, confirm status."
- Officer: "10-15, one adult male."
In this exchange, the officer is formally advising dispatch that a person is in custody. The use of 10-15 establishes custody status and triggers appropriate logging, monitoring, and follow-up procedures.
Operational Significance
10-15 is a key status code that marks a transition in an incident. Once a subject is reported as 10-15, the situation is generally considered stabilized, shifting focus from control to transport, processing, or detention.
Dispatch may use this information to update incident records, notify supervisors, or coordinate additional resources such as transport units or detention facilities.
Officer Safety And Accountability
Declaring 10-15 is an important safety practice. It confirms that the subject is under control and allows dispatch to monitor the officer’s status more accurately. Depending on agency protocol, officers may follow up with 10-6 (busy) while securing the prisoner or advise 10-0 (use caution) if additional risks are present.
If transport is required, the officer may later report 10-8 (in service) once the prisoner has been transferred or the call is cleared.
Variations And Regional Interpretation
While 10-15 is widely understood to mean “prisoner in custody,” some agencies use it more narrowly to indicate that a prisoner is being transported, while others apply it immediately upon detention. These differences make it important for personnel to understand local definitions and usage.
For clarity, many agencies supplement 10-15 with plain-language details such as the number of prisoners, gender, or transport destination.
Plain-Language Alternatives
Agencies that favor plain-language communication may replace 10-15 with phrases such as:
- "One subject in custody."
- "Suspect detained."
- "Individual under arrest."
Related 10-Codes
Codes commonly associated with 10-15 include 10-4 (acknowledgment), 10-6 (busy), 10-8 (in service), 10-7 (out of service), and 10-20 (location). Together, these codes help track custody status, officer availability, and operational flow.