CONTRBAND C-170 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: ITEMS FOUND AT THE TIME OF BOOKING
(CONTRABAND AND PERMISSIBLE) NO: C-170
FILE: CONTRBAND
EFFECTIVE DATE: 04-29-91 REVISED: 12-25-94,03-12-96,07-01-98,09-01-98,
11-01-98
AUTHORITY: Sheriff M. Mims APPROVED BY: Captain C. Mestas
REFERENCE: Penal Code Sections 2656, 4502, 4504, 4573, 4573.5, 4573.6,
4573.8, 4574, and 12021.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this policy is to establish and maintain a consistent method for the
processing of contraband found at the time of booking, and for a consistent approach in
discerning acceptable items into the Fresno County Sheriffs Department Detention
Facilities.
POLICY:
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriffs Department Jail Division that any item
discovered in the possession of an arrestee, which is not authorized by Jail Division
policies and procedures or law, shall be considered contraband and handled in accordance
with this procedure.
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriffs Department Jail Division that any correctional
officer discovering contraband during a booking search or in the booking area, shall notify
the Booking I Officer and the Booking Sergeant and complete an incident report. The
Booking Sergeant shall notify the Watch Commander who shall refer the matter to the
arresting or transporting agency for processing, if appropriate.
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriffs Department Jail Division that any correctional
officer discovering illegal contraband during the booking search or in the booking area,
shall personally maintain possession of the item and preserve the chain of evidence by not
allowing it to leave their possession until it can be placed into an evidence locker or turned
over to an investigating officer.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: ITEMS FOUND AT THE TIME OF BOOKING
(CONTRABAND AND PERMISSIBLE) NO: C-170
FILE: CONTRBAND
PROCEDURES:
I. FIREARMS, WEAPONS AND NARCOTICS
A. Whenever firearms, weapons, or narcotics (determined illegal for
possession or to conceal by law) are found on an arrestee during the
booking search, the discovering correctional officer shall-
1. Confiscate the item(s), place it in an evidence locker and retain the
locker key, thus preserving the chain of evidence until the item can
be turned over to the appropriate investiga-ting officer. If the item
is too large to fit inside an evidence locker, the officer shall
personally retain the item until it can be turned over to the
appropriate authorities.
2. Notify the Booking I officer.
3. Notify the Booking Sergeant.
4. Complete an incident report.
B. The Booking Sergeant shall notify the Watch Commander.
C. The Watch Commander shall make a determination regarding the
disposition of the item as follows-
1. If the Watch Commander determines that the matter should be
referred for the possible placement of additional charges:
a. The arresting or transporting agency shall be contacted.
b. The discovering correctional officer shall turn the item over to
the investigating officer.
C. Additional charges may be placed on the inmate by the
investigating agency.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: ITEMS FOUND AT THE TIME OF BOOKING
(CONTRABAND AND PERMISSIBLE) NO: C-170
FILE: CONTRBAND
d. An incident report shall be completed by the discovering
correctional officer and any other staff members directly
involved in the discovery of the contraband. The chain of
evidence shall be noted in the incident report.
2. If the Watch Commander determines that the items be processed
for destruction, and no additional charges are to be placed:
a. The confiscated evidence or contraband shall be booked into
evidence and marked for destruction as per Sheriffs
Department policy.
b. An incident report shall be completed by the discovering
correctional officer.
D. At no time shall firearms, weapons or narcotics of any inmate or arrestee
be stored within any Fresno County Sheriffs Department Detention
Facility.
II. CHEMICAL AGENTS
A. Chemical agents (mace, tear gas, etc) may be carried by persons
certified by the California Department of Justice in accordance with PC
12403.7. Whenever any arrestee or inmate is brought into booking,who
is certified or non-certified, in possession of a chemical agent(s), it shall
be retained by the arresting agency and handled by them in accordance
with their established policy.
B. At no time shall chemical agents of any inmate or arrestee be stored
within any Fresno County Detention Facility.
III. AMMUNITION
A. Whenever ammunition is found in the possession of an arrestee or
inmate it shall be retained by the arresting agency and handled by them
in accordance with their established policy.
B. At no time shall ammunition of any inmate or arrestee be stored within
any Fresno County Detention Facility.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: ITEMS FOUND AT THE TIME OF BOOKING
(CONTRABAND AND PERMISSIBLE) NO: C-170
FILE: CONTRBAND
IV. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRABAND
A. Miscellaneous items that are legal to possess, such as pocket knives,
scissors, screwdrivers, smoking materials,wigs, devices that secure hair,
etc., which are considered contraband within the detention facilities shall
be handled as follows-
1. When such items are discovered during the booking search, the
discovering correctional officer shall remove the items and notify
the Booking I Officer.
2. The Booking I Officer shall notify the transporting officer if they are
present at the jail facility and refer the items to them for placement
into the inmate property envelope.
3. If the transporting officer is not immediately available to make the
necessary corrections on the inmate property envelope, a
SECOND envelope shall be utilized for the additional personal
property, completed by the Booking I Officer and stapled to the
original inmate property envelope.
B. All personal property of inmates transported into a Fresno County
Detention Facility from another institution (with the exception of items
listed in Section V) shall be stored in accordance with existing
procedures.
1. Perishable items that are not similar to those currently offered on
commissary by the Fresno County Sheriffs Department will be
thrown away. Any item disposed of, valued at $1.00 or more shall
require an incident report be written explaining the circumstances.
C. Perishable items belonging to new arrestees which cannot be stored until
an arrestee is released from custody shall be retained by the arresting
agency and handled by them in accordance with their established policy.
V. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS CONSIDERED TO BE PERMISSIBLE
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: ITEMS FOUND AT THE TIME OF BOOKING
(CONTRABAND AND PERMISSIBLE) NO: C-170
FILE: CONTRBAND
A. Miscellaneous items that are considered admissible into the Fresno
County Detention Facilities and may be maintained in the possession of
the inmate during their stay in custody are as follows-
1. Prescription eyeglasses
2. Hearing aids
3. Prostheses
4. If approved by medical staff, some medications(e.g., nitroglycerine,
asthma inhalants).
5. Jewelry, including body jewelry. If all efforts to remove an item of
jewelry prove unsuccessful and the item cannot be removed
without cutting it off, the inmate may keep possession of the item.
6. Hair extensions that have been glued into the hair. However, the
hair shall be thoroughly searched for contraband. Hair extensions
that have been sewn or braided into the hair, along with any beads
or other hair accessories, shall be removed and placed into the
inmate's property envelope. Should the glued extensions be
removed at a later date, they shall be placed into a property
envelope and forwarded to inmate records.
B. Inmates transported into a Fresno County Detention Facility from another
institution will be allowed to maintain the following possessions-
1. Writing materials.
2. Five (5) paperback book
3. Two (2) current newspapers.
4. Six (6) magazines.
5. A dictionary.
6. A bible.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: ITEMS FOUND AT THE TIME OF BOOKING
(CONTRABAND AND PERMISSIBLE) NO: C-170
FILE: CONTRBAND
7. An address book.
8. Court papers and legal documents pertinent to their case.
9. Personal hygiene items.
10. Perishable items comparable to those currently offered on
commissary.
C. Inmates transported into the Fresno County Detention Facility from
another institution will have their bulk property searched for the
possessions listed in Section V(B). This search will be conducted at the
time of the inmate's arrival into the facility by a designated officer as
assigned by the Booking I Officer. All clothing items found in the
inmate's bulk property will be returned to the inmate so that the inmate
can turn them in to the Clothing Officer at the time of dress-in.
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