COMMISSARY E-175 01-24-23 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: INMATE 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
AUTHORITY: Sheriff M. Mims APPROVED BY: Assistant Sheriff T. Gattie
REFERENCE: Penal Code Section 4025; California Code of Regulations, Title
15, Sections 1216 and 1265; Fresno County Ordinance Code
2.32.030; and Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division Policies
and Procedures Manual Section E-170/Inmate Welfare Trust
Fund.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this policy is to establish and maintain a method of providing inmates
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 inmate commissary system which shall provide inmates 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 inmate
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 inmate commissary shall be deposited into the Inmate Welfare Fund and handled
in accordance with Jail Division Policies and Procedures Section E-170/Inmate Welfare
Trust Fund (FILE: IWF).
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that all inmates,
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.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: INMATE COMMISSARY NO: E-175
FILE: COMMISSARY
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that when an inmate
has less than two dollars ($2) in their account balance, they are eligible for an indigent
issue package on a weekly basis. The commissary provider may charge the inmate up
to one dollar ($1) for the indigent issue package.
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that all inmates 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 — INMATE RESPONSIBILITY
A. Commissary purchases are made available to inmates once each week in
accordance with their housing unit schedule. Each inmate 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 inmate will not receive commissary.
B. Inmates 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 inmates 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 inmate up to one dollar ($1) for the
indigent issue package, which will contain:
1. Ten (10) sheets of writing paper
2. Five (5) golf pencils
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: INMATE COMMISSARY NO: E-175
FILE: COMMISSARY
3. Two (2) stamped envelopes
4. One (1) small tube of toothpaste
5. One (1) fingertip 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. Inmates 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 one
dollar ($1) for each indigent package, which shall consist of the following
supplies:
1. Ten (10) sheets of writing paper
2. Five (5) golf pencils
3. Two (2) 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
III. DISCIPLINARY ISSUE
A. Upon placement into a disciplinary cell, inmates are allowed to keep personal
hygiene items as listed in Jail Division Policies and Procedures Section E-
230/Discipline (FILE: DISCIPLINE).
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: INMATE COMMISSARY NO: E-175
FILE: COMMISSARY
B. Inmates on disciplinary status are not eligible to order or receive commissary
items.
C. Inmates 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 two stamped
envelopes) by a designated Inmate 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 inmate will not be charged for the discipline package.
IV. COMMISSARY DISTRIBUTION
A. When commissary is delivered, the inmate is required to show their wristband
and sign the receipt.
B. It is recommended that the inmate immediately confirm their order, prior to
walking away.
C. Inmates who disrupt commissary distribution shall receive a rule violation for
Disruption of Facility Routine.
V. COMMISSARY CREDIT NOT RECEIVED
A. If an inmate 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.
1. Upon completion, the form shall be forwarded to the Sheriff's Business
Office for processing.
2. The inmate will receive a check in the mail in approximately two-to-three
weeks.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: INMATE COMMISSARY NO: E-175
FILE: COMMISSARY
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 inmate
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 inmates' accounts.
B. If the commissary vendor is able to identify the inmates 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 inmate released with the balance of their
accounts.
C. If the individual inmates cannot be identified because no list has been
received from the commissary vendor, all inmates 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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