NOTIFY-EMERGENCY B-146 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: NOTIFICATION OF AN INMATE IN THE EVENT
OF A PERSONAL FAMILY EMERGENCY NO: B-146
FILE: NOTIFY-EMERGENCY
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12-18-89 REVISED: 08-06-90, 12-25-94, 09-01-99, 03-01-10
AUTHORITY: Sheriff M. Mims APPROVED BY: Assistant Sheriff T. Gattie
REFERENCE: California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Section 1072.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this policy is to establish a uniform method for notifying an inmate in the
event of a personal family emergency.
POLICY:
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriffs Office Jail Division to have a Chaplain notify
an inmate in the event of a personal family emergency.
PROCEDURE:
I. DEFINITIONS
EMERGENCY: An emergency is defined as a death, serious illness/injury/
hospitalization, or accident involving an immediate family member or significant
other.
IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS: means legal spouse; registered domestic partner;
natural, adoptive, step, or foster parents; grandparents; natural, step, or foster
brothers or sisters; the inmate's natural, adoptive, or legal stepchildren; and
grandchildren. Aunts, uncles and cousins are not immediate family members
unless a verified foster relationship exists.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: NOTIFICATION OF AN INMATE IN THE EVENT
OF A PERSONAL FAMILY EMERGENCY NO: B-146
FILE: NOTIFY-EMERGENCY
II. EMERGENCY CALLS
A. When a member of an inmate's family calls to convey an emergency
message, the call shall be referred to one of the following persons, listed in
the order of preference:
1. Chaplain
2. Facility Sergeant
3. Central Control Sergeant
4. Watch Commander
B. The staff member accepting the call shall attempt to verify the emergency.
C. If the request is determined to be valid, the inmate should be informed of the
message by a Chaplain. The following persons shall be notified:
1. The Facility Sergeant and Watch Commander (if not already aware).
2. The affected floor officers.
3. Jail Psychiatric Services (JPS) - to evaluate the inmate's status.
D. If a Chaplain is not available, the Watch Commander may allow the inmate to
make a monitored telephone call.
E. The floor officers shall monitor the inmate's reactions and report any behavior
that would require an increase in custody and/or change of housing and/or
follow-up counseling to the appropriate staff members.
III. VISITOR NOTIFICATION
A. When death, life-threatening illness, or injury occurs to an immediate family
member of the inmate, an approved visitor(s) may visit the inmate to offer
condolences or inform the inmate of the occurrence.
B. Each request to visit because of a family emergency requires proof of the
emergency and approval by the supervising Sergeant.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: NOTIFICATION OF AN INMATE IN THE EVENT
OF A PERSONAL FAMILY EMERGENCY NO: B-146
FILE: NOTIFY-EMERGENCY
C. The Sergeant shall notify:
1. The affected floor officers
2. JPS
3. The Watch Commander
D. The floor officers shall monitor the inmate's reactions and report any behavior
that would require an increase in custody and/or change of housing and/or
follow-up counseling to the appropriate staff members, including referral to a
Chaplain.
IV. PREVIOUS NOTIFICATION
When staff is made aware that an emergency notification has already been made
by a member of the public, the inmate shall be offered the services of a Chaplain,
and JPS shall be notified to evaluate the inmate's status.
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