Scenario 11: An officer finds an inmate hiding a homemade weapon. After securing the weapon and the inmate, what is the next critical step?

Question: Scenario 11: An officer finds an inmate hiding a homemade weapon. After securing the weapon and the inmate, what is the next critical step?

Answer options:

• Scold the inmate and threaten further consequences. ✅ Conduct a thorough search of the inmate's cell and person.
• Immediately transfer the inmate to another unit without further investigation.
• Tell other inmates about the incident as a warning.

Correct answer: Conduct a thorough search of the inmate's cell and person.

Explanation: After an immediate threat is neutralized, a thorough investigative search is crucial to determine if there are other weapons or related contraband, and to gather evidence for disciplinary action. The correct answer is "Conduct a thorough search of the inmate's cell and person.". This capacity-fill scenario 11 reinforces the same competency for the correctional-officer bank and follows the certified explanation standard.