COMMISSARY E-175 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: COMMISSARY NO: E-175
FILE: COMMISSARY
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01-01-93 REVISED: 12-25-94, 06-04-95, 10-01-96, 02-01-98,
04-01-98, 09-01-98, 07-01-99, 01-01-00,
11-01-05, 03-01-10, 01-24-23
AUTHORITY: Sheriff J. Zanoni APPROVED BY: Assistant Sheriff S. McComas
REFERENCE: Penal Code Section 4025; California Code of Regulations, Title 15,
Sections 1063 and 1081; Fresno County Ordinance Code 2.32.030;
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this policy is to establish and maintain a method of providing incarcerated
people housed within the Fresno County Jail with the opportunity to purchase personal
items not furnished by the Fresno County Sheriff's Office.
POLICY:
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office that the Jail Division shall maintain an
incarcerated person commissary system which shall provide incarcerated people the
ability to purchase food items, postage and writing materials, and hygiene items for their
personal use.
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that the incarcerated
person commissary store be privatized and contracted to a service provider. The service
provider shall supply commissary under the terms of the negotiated contract.
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that all funds generated
by the incarcerated person commissary shall be deposited into the Incarcerated Person
Welfare Fund and handled in accordance with the corresponding Jail Division Policy.
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that all incarcerated
people, excepting those on disciplinary status, shall be allowed to purchase up to one
hundred seventy-five dollars ($175) of commissary, once each week as scheduled.
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that all commissary items
shall be approved by a Jail Division Bureau Commander.
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that when an incarcerated
person has less than two dollars ($2) in their account balance, they are eligible for an
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: COMMISSARY NO: E-175
FILE: COMMISSARY
indigent issue package on a weekly basis. The commissary provider may charge the
incarcerated person up to two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) for the indigent issue
package.
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that all incarcerated
people shall be allowed to keep personal hygiene and correspondence items upon their
initial placement into a disciplinary cell and be provided with supplemental hygiene items
weekly thereafter (at no charge) for the length of their stay in disciplinary isolation, in lieu
of commissary.
PROCEDURES:
I. COMMISSARY — INCARCERATED PERSON RESPONSIBILITY
A. Commissary purchases are made available to incarcerated people once each
week in accordance with their housing unit schedule. Each incarcerated
person is responsible to correctly complete their commissary slip on the
designated date and time for their particular housing unit. Forms that are not
filled out properly or completely will be rejected and the incarcerated person
will not receive commissary.
B. Incarcerated people shall be responsible for monitoring the amount of funds in
their personal account. Money must already be posted and available in their
account at the time they place their order.
C. Excessive commissary hoarding may be deemed a security risk and may be
confiscated by correctional officers in the event it becomes a hazard or threat
to facility security.
II. BOOKING AND INDIGENT ISSUANCE
A. All newly admitted incarcerated people are provided with an indigent issue
package following assignment to facility housing. This is a one-time issue and
the commissary provider may charge the incarcerated person up to two dollars
and fifty cents ($2.50) for the indigent issue package, which will contain:
1. Ten (10) sheets of writing paper
2. Five (5) pencils
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: COMMISSARY NO: E-175
FILE: COMMISSARY
3. Two (2) stamped envelopes
4. One (1) small tube of toothpaste
5. One (1) compact toothbrush
6. One (1) plastic cup
7. One (1) razor
8. One (1) small bar of soap
9. One (1) comb
10. One (1) roll of toilet paper
11. One (1) Inmate Orientation Handbook
B. Incarcerated people who have less than two dollars ($2) in their personal
account are eligible for an indigent package on a weekly basis by filling out a
commissary form and requesting same. The commissary provider may charge
up to two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) for each indigent package, which shall
consist of the following supplies-
1. Eight (8) sheets of writing paper
2. Five (5) golf pencils
3. Four (4) stamped envelopes
4. One (1) small tube of toothpaste
5. One (1) razor
6. One (1) small bar of soap
7. During the first week of the month, a toothbrush will be included in the
package
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: COMMISSARY NO: E-175
FILE: COMMISSARY
III. DISCIPLINARY ISSUE
A. Upon placement into a disciplinary cell, incarcerated people are allowed to
keep personal hygiene items as listed in Jail Division Policies and Procedures
Section E-230/Discipline (FILE: DISCIPLINE).
B. Incarcerated people on disciplinary status are not eligible to order or receive
commissary items.
C. Incarcerated people who are confined in disciplinary cells for longer than seven
(7) days shall be provided with supplemental hygiene items (toothpaste, soap
and razor) and correspondence materials (pencil, writing paper and four
stamped envelopes) by a designated Jail Programs staff member once each
week on Thursdays.
1. Toothbrushes are distributed on the first Thursday of every month.
2. It is not necessary to submit a request slip for the discipline packet.
3. The incarcerated person will not be charged for the discipline package.
IV. COMMISSARY DISTRIBUTION
A. When commissary is delivered, the incarcerated person is required to show
their wristband and sign the receipt. Incarcerated people not wearing their
wristband at the time of commissary distribution may have their commissary
items returned and account refunded.
B. It is recommended that the incarcerated person immediately confirm their
order, prior to walking away.
C. Incarcerated people who disrupt commissary distribution shall receive a rule
violation for Disruption of Facility Routine.
V. COMMISSARY CREDIT NOT RECEIVED
A. If an incarcerated person is released prior to delivery of their commissary, the
funds will be re-added to their account and held for a period of six (6) months.
B. Persons who have been released from custody will be given an Inmate
Information Request Form.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: COMMISSARY NO: E-175
FILE: COMMISSARY
1. Upon completion, the form shall be forwarded to the Sheriff's Business
Office for processing.
2. The incarcerated person will receive a check in the mail in approximately
two-to-three weeks.
VI. UNPOSTED COMMISSARY SALES
If there is a delay in posting commissary sales and the commissary has already
been delivered (e.g., the Offendertrak system is inoperative for an extended length
of time and orders have already been filled, but not debited from incarcerated
person accounts), one of the following procedures shall be implemented:
A. If practical, the release of monies shall be delayed until all commissary sales
have been posted to incarcerated people' accounts.
B. If the commissary vendor is able to identify the incarcerated people whose
accounts have been affected, they shall submit a list of commissary sales not
posted via Offendertrak to the Watch Commander. The commissary amounts
shall be manually deducted and the incarcerated person released with the
balance of their accounts.
C. If the individual incarcerated people cannot be identified because no list has
been received from the commissary vendor, all incarcerated people in the
affected housing areas shall be given an Inmate Information Request Form and
released from custody without their money. Upon completion, the form shall
be forwarded to the Sheriff's Business Office for processing. Claims will be
returned to the person by mail in approximately two-to-three weeks; they will
not be given cash.
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