RIOT B-110 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: RIOT/DISTURBANCE NO: B-110
FILE: RIOT
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12-18-89 REVISED: 12-25-94, 05-06-96, 11-01-99, 07-01-10
AUTHORITY: Sheriff J. Zanoni APPROVED BY: Assistant Sheriff T. Gattie
REFERENCE: California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Section 1029(a)(7)(B).
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this policy is to provide a means for the protection of life, property and
facility security in the event of an inmate riot/disturbance situation.
POLICY:
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriffs Office Jail Division that all reasonable steps
will be taken to prevent riotous or destructive inmate behavior. In order to minimize
injuries to staff and/or inmates and damage to the facility, every effort will be made to
de-escalate and resolve the situation with the minimal use of force necessary.
PROCEDURES:
I. TYPES OF RIOT/DISTURBANCES
A. Riot/disturbance by a large number of inmates will usually involve at least one
of the three (3) identifiable groups listed:
1. Ethnic groups
2. Inmate (prison) gangs
3. Administrative segregation inmate classifications
B. Disturbances can be attributed to real or contrived grievances.
C. The implied cause can sometimes be a diversion to cover other criminal
activity by inmates, including assaults and/or escape attempts.
Page 1 of 5
FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: RIOT/DISTURBANCE NO: B-110
FILE: RIOT
II. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
The following is a list of some possible contributing factors among the inmate
population which may provide a warning to a possible riot/disturbance situation:
A. Racial unrest is one of the most dangerous causes of riotous behavior.
B. The quality and quantity of the food provided to the inmates.
C. Certain staff members, by their actions or words, may become the focus of
widespread inmate complaints.
D. Lack of proper medical care.
E. Continued complaints about recreation, visitation, and mail privileges.
F. Misinformation relayed to prisoners by staff members.
III. WARNING SIGNS OF INMATE UNREST
Specific changes in behavior or signs of tension among the inmate population may
provide a direct warning to a possible group disturbance. The indicators or signs
may be evident for hours, days or months. Staff members must be able to identify,
document and report these indicators to their supervisor. Some indicators of direct
warning signs are as follows:
A. Individual inmates are restless. Inmates may be sullen, edgy and flare up
easily.
B. Inmates avoid contact with staff. Inmates who are normally pleasant and
talkative suddenly are avoiding contact with staff and staying to themselves.
C. Abnormal number of requests for housing change. Possible trouble about
to take place in a housing area may cause a large number of inmates to
request a housing change.
D. Abnormal number of incident reports. A large number of incident reports
may indicate a change in the atmosphere of the housing area.
Page 2 of 5
FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: RIOT/DISTURBANCE NO: B-110
FILE: RIOT
E. Absence of inmates from popular functions. Examples may include a
popular dinner being served and only a few want to eat; a sunny day and only
a handful of inmates go to the recreation yard; a popular movie or TV show is
on and only a few watch.
F. Excessive commissary sales. Excessive sales or hoarding of coffee,
cookies, candy and/or other items of food may be a sign that the inmates are
preparing themselves for a long stay in their cells. Excessive sales or
hoarding could also indicate a food strike or sit-down strike is about to take
place.
G. Disturbances at other institutions. A work strike, for example at another
institution or a civil disturbance in the community, may cause a sympathetic
response from the general population.
H. Forming of racial groups or cliques. When any identified group or clique
starts grouping in the housing area, recreation yard, etc., it is a sign that
trouble may be brewing between groups.
I. Group assault upon an individual of another group or race. Retaliation is
almost a certainty when any member of a group is assaulted.
J. Continual complaints by more radical inmates. When the more radical
inmates start complaining about food, housing, or privileges, it is a possible
sign of trouble.
IV. PREVENTATIVE ACTION
A. Staff members shall create and maintain good communications with all
inmates regarding plans, programs and procedures.
1. Staff members who are knowledgeable of policies and procedures create
trust and confidence in inmates.
2. Well-informed staff members are better able to relay appropriate
information to the inmates in a timely manner.
B. Open communications between staff members and supervisors will increase
the reporting of unrest among the inmates.
Page 3 of 5
FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: RIOT/DISTURBANCE NO: B-110
FILE: RIOT
1. Staff briefings should include a reasonable time allotment for all staff
members to contribute information to the group and the supervisor.
2. Supervisors shall make themselves available to staff members regularly.
Private conversations often contain very sensitive information that may
bear directly upon inmate unrest.
C. Morale among inmates is maintained in a variety of ways. The objective in
maintaining morale is to develop a feeling that the inmate's basic needs are
being adequately met in such matters as food, clothing, medical attention,etc.
Equally important to the inmates is a sense of being treated fairly and justly;
having the opportunity to appeal to authority in the writing of grievances;and a
belief that their basic welfare is a matter of concern to management.
D. The administration of fair and even-handed discipline is fundamental to
maintaining an orderly facility. This cannot be accomplished if some staff
members are inexcusably lax and others are needlessly harsh. Rules and
regulations in the policies and procedures manual must be specifically spelled
out for the administration of discipline. All staff and inmates must be informed
of the policies top management will enforce. Otherwise, laxity and severity will
exist side by side and prepare the scene for dissension and disturbances.
E. Prompt and positive handling of inmate complaints and grievances is essential
in maintaining good morale. A firm "no" can be as effective as granting a
request in reducing an individual's tensions, particularly if the inmate feels the
problem has been given genuine consideration by the appropriate officials and
if given a reason for the denial. An individual can live with "yes" or"no" but a
"maybe" or "perhaps" creates frustration. Equivocation and vague answers
create false hopes and increase a person's anger when nothing is done.
F. Food complaints are one of the primary causes of disturbances in an
institution. The food service plan must provide and maintain a proper diet, be
wholesomely prepared and attractively served in clean surroundings. It is
important that cold food is served cold and hot food is served hot.
G. Clothing issues can be another source of complaint. III-fitting or improperly
laundered clothing, and poor issuance and/or exchange procedures could be
very costly to the facility. It is important that inmates be provided with
appropriate clothing.
Page 4 of 5
FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: RIOT/DISTURBANCE NO: B-110
FILE: RIOT
H. Disturbances in a correctional setting can often be prevented by being able to
interpret and act on changes in the institutional atmosphere and behavior
patterns of inmates. For every form of behavior there is a reason. It is up to
the staff member to find out why. It is better to act on, rather than react to,
behavior which can be eruptive, as well as destructive.
V. NOTIFICATION, CONTAINMENT AND CONTROL OF A RIOT SITUATION
Emergency procedures and notifications shall be implemented as per Emergency
Planning procedures (B-101/FILE: EMERGENCY).
Page 5 of 5