in secure custody

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in secure custody" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal or law enforcement contexts to describe someone or something being held in a safe and protected manner. Example: "The evidence was placed in secure custody to ensure its integrity during the investigation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Roughly half the respondents reported that during their last stay in secure custody, correctional staff deliberately turned a blind eye to impending peer violence.

Journal of Criminal Justice

One study found that children who had been detained in secure custody were significantly more likely to go on to commit sexual and violent offences in later life than those who had served sentences in open institutions, irrespective of whether they had previously committed violent or sexual offences.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A total of 2,637 under-18s are in secure detention, compared with 1,769 last November; the number of juveniles in custody has doubled in a decade.

The Guardian

His estranged wife, Bette Roberts had accused him of rape in an attempt to secure custody of their two children.

Huffington Post

The Colorado sanctuary sued its home state this week in an effort to secure custody of Meatball.

Los Angeles Times

To digress further, many of Cattrall's post-S&C roles have been some variation of Samantha's sex goddess: in last spring's surprisingly touching indie movie called Meet Monica Velour, her character has outlived a youthful porn star career, and now resides in a trailer, trying to secure custody of her daughter, until a geeky fan turns up.

Huffington Post

One hundred juvenile offenders responded to a semistructured interview that explored their experience of secure custody and their involvement in peer violence in secure facilities across Ontario, Canada.

Journal of Criminal Justice

When patients have completed the baseline-questionnaire (T0), allocation will be performed by an independent researcher (BM), who is not in contact with the patients and keeps the randomization list in secure and confidential custody.

BMC Cancer

According to the advocates working at ground level, the idea that victims feel safe and secure in ICE custody is a joke.

Vice

(i) GPs working predominantly in secure environments The majority of the interviewees (71%, n = 27) worked predominantly in a secure environment; of these 24 GPs worked in prisons, two in police custody suites and one in a secure mental hospital in nine out of the 10 National Offender Management Service regions of England (Table 3).

BMC Family Practice

617, 626-627, 36 L.Ed. 429 (1892), the Court was noticeably careful to hold that the right to be secure from unauthorized violence while in federal custody was secured 'by the Constitution and laws of the United States.' Accord, In re Quarles, 158 U.S. 532, 537-538, 15 S.Ct.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in secure custody", consider the specific context. If emphasizing safety is crucial, alternatives like "in protective custody" might be more suitable. For situations where the level of security is important, using a phrase like "in a high-security unit" provides more clarity.

Common error

Don't assume "in secure custody" always implies maximum security. It indicates a level of protection, but the degree can vary. Specify the security level when necessary to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in secure custody" typically functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating the state or condition of being held safely and securely. Ludwig's examples confirm that "in secure custody" describes the circumstances of detention or confinement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in secure custody" is grammatically correct and serves to describe the condition of being safely and securely held. Ludwig indicates that this phrase appears in both news and scientific contexts, with a neutral to formal tone. Related phrases such as "under protective detention" and "in guarded confinement" offer nuanced alternatives. When using "in secure custody", ensure that the level of security implied aligns with the actual circumstances to avoid misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under protective detention

Focuses on detention for safety rather than solely on security.

in guarded confinement

Emphasizes the presence of guards ensuring confinement.

in protective care

Highlights the aspect of care and safety within the custody.

under strict supervision

Highlights the controlled observation aspect of custody.

in a secure holding facility

Specifies the type of facility providing secure custody.

within a high-security unit

Details the level of security in the unit of custody.

in controlled containment

Focuses on the act of containing someone under control.

in supervised detention

Stresses the supervised aspect of the detention.

under lock and key

An idiomatic expression emphasizing the physical security of custody.

in safe keeping

Focuses on the safety aspect of being in custody.

FAQs

How can I use "in secure custody" in a sentence?

You can use "in secure custody" to describe someone being held in a safe and protected environment, such as "The suspect is currently "in secure custody" pending trial."

What's the difference between "in secure custody" and "under arrest"?

"Under arrest" indicates that someone has been legally detained, while ""in secure custody"" emphasizes the safety and protection measures taken during that detention. Someone can be under arrest without necessarily being in secure custody if the facilities do not offer sufficient protection.

What can I say instead of "in secure custody"?

You can use alternatives like "in protective custody", "in guarded confinement", or "under strict supervision" depending on the specific context.

Is "in secure custody" only used in legal contexts?

While ""in secure custody"" is frequently used in legal and law enforcement contexts, it can also apply to any situation where someone or something is being held safely and securely. For example, it could describe valuable items being held in secure custody.