METAL DETECTOR D-270 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: METAL DETECTOR CLEARANCE NO: D-270
FILE: METAL DETECTOR
EFFECTIVE DATE: 04-29-91 REVISED: 11-04-91, 03-09-92, 05-01-93, 12-25-94
11-01-96, 09-01-00, 11-01-05
AUTHORITY: Sheriff M. Mims APPROVED BY: Captain M. Leonardo
REFERENCE: Sheriffs Department, County of Fresno Policies and Procedures
Manual Section 201(111).
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this policy is to provide for facility security and staff, inmate and public
safety by establishing consistent parameters for metal detector clearance.
POLICY:
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriffs Department Detention Bureau that all persons
entering the security perimeter of the facility where metal detectors are in place must pass
through the metal detector without activating it before they are allowed access into the
security perimeter.
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriffs Department Detention Bureau that all inmates
must pass through the housing floor metal detector without activating it whenever they
leave or return to their housing floor.
PROCEDURES:
1. DEFINITION
A. SECURITY PERIMETER - A division line in a jail facility that separates
the area of the facility in which inmates are allowed, from that in which
inmates are not allowed.
1. The following areas are considered NOT to be within the security
perimeter, however, persons entering these areas may be required
to clear the metal detector at the discretion of the officer assigned
to the area:
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: METAL DETECTOR CLEARANCE NO: D-270
FILE: METAL DETECTOR
a. Main Jail public visiting areas
b. North Annex Jail public visiting area
c. Line-up room
d. Identification fingerprint section
2. The South Annex Jail Lobby and Visiting areas are considered to
be within the security perimeter. ALL visitors (professional and
public) must clear the metal detector prior to entering the facility.
II. METAL DETECTOR CLEARANCE INTO THE FACILITY
A. All persons entering the security perimeter of the facility where metal
detectors are in place shall be required to pass through the metal
detector without activating its alarm.
B. If the metal detector alarm activates, the person attempting to enter the
facility shall be asked by lobby staff to step back and remove any easily
removable metal items from their person that may have activated the
metal detector alarm. Lobby staff shall not suggest or mention the
removal of metal supported underwear.
C. All persons entering the facility security perimeter who are not exempted
by this policy MUST CLEAR THE METAL DETECTOR or they shall not
be permitted entrance into the facility.
1. Exceptions shall be made for persons with certain medical
conditions, devices or implants. The person may be searched
using a hand-held scanner and/or consent to a pat-down search of
their person in lieu of passing through a metal detector.
2. Pat-down searches should be as least invasive as possible and
should be conducted in such a manner as to maintain the dignity of
the person being searched.
3. The person may be asked to remove loose clothing, materials, or
objects to allow proper inspection.
4. The search shall be limited to the area of the unresolved alarm and
only to the extent necessary to ensure that there are no prohibited
items on the person.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: METAL DETECTOR CLEARANCE NO: D-270
FILE: METAL DETECTOR
D. Items that do not clear the metal detector (e.g., purses, briefcases,
packages, etc.) shall be subjected to a search for contraband by a staff
member before being permitted to be brought into the facility by
professional visitors. Public visitors are not allowed to take personal
effects (e.g., strollers, purses, bags, etc.) into the public visiting areas.
E. Persons who request entry into the facility shall have the option to leave
items which do not clear the metal detector in the lockers provided rather
than submitting those items to a search.
III. HAND-HELD SCANNERS (HAND WANDS)
A. Hand-held scanners are sensitive to metal, but will only alarm when the
broad surfaces of the sensing element are placed in close proximity to
metal objects.
B. The inspection should follow a systematic pattern until the officer has
covered both the front and back of the person's body, from the top of
their head to the floor.
1. The sensing element should be used parallel to the area being
inspected, and should be held one-to-three inches above the
surface of the part of the body being inspected.
2. Officers shall overlap in their wanding pattern, starting at the point
in which an identified source or object has been located to ensure
that a secondary object is not concealed in or near the same
location of the person's body where previous objects have been
found.
3. The officer shall continue to use the hand wand until the source of
the alarm is absolute and positively identified and the entire
surface of the body has been inspected and cleared.
IV. METAL DETECTOR CLEARANCE EXEMPTIONS
A. The following personnel shall be exempt from the metal detector
clearance policy-
1. Detention Bureau personnel,while on duty and coming to and from
work.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: METAL DETECTOR CLEARANCE NO: D-270
FILE: METAL DETECTOR
2. Fresno County Maintenance personnel assigned to work in the jail
who are on duty.
3. Jail Medical and Mental Health Services personnel, while on duty
and coming to and from work.
4. Identification Bureau personnel, while on duty and coming to and
from work.
5. Bailiff personnel delivering courtwork to the jail records window.
6. Armored courier personnel, during scheduled delivery and pick up
of money bags from the jail records window.
7. U.S. Postal Service personnel, during scheduled delivery and pick
up from the Main Jail 2nd floor Distribution Room.
8. Chaplains
9. Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners from the Board of
Prison Terms, while on official business.
10. Peace Officers. However, no weapons (i.e., firearms, mace, O.C.
gas, etc.) shall be allowed into the secured areas of the facility.
11. Persons given prior exemption by the Watch Commander or the
Bureau Commander.
V. PHYSICALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS
Physically impaired persons can present a unique challenge to the entry
screening process. Likewise, the process can be a difficult and
demanding experience for non-ambulatory and other physically
impaired persons. If not handled with dignity and respect, the process
can be very humiliating for the person being screened. This special
challenge does not, however, relieve staff of their responsibility to
conduct a complete and thorough search. The following procedure
shall be followed with persons confined to a wheelchair:
A. The Lobby Officer shall inquire as to the person's ability to walk
through the metal detector or stand far enough away from the
wheelchair to allow inspection of his/her person with a hand-held
scanner.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: METAL DETECTOR CLEARANCE NO: D-270
FILE: METAL DETECTOR
B. If the person is physically incapable of standing or walking, a
consent to search shall be obtained from the person and a search
shall be conducted of their person and the wheelchair.
C. The wheelchair and any other ambulatory type medical devices
shall be thoroughly inspected for concealed prohibited items.
Close attention should be paid to blankets or coverings, and any
attachments to the device. Hand-carried items within their
possession shall also be inspected.
V1. RIGHT TO REFUSE
A. The public has the right to refuse the screening process and inspection
of their personal belongings.
B. The public has the right to stop the screening of their persons or
personal belongings at anytime during the screening process, unless an
obvious threat or illegal contraband has been detected or identified.
C. Access to the facility shall be denied to those persons electing not to be
screened or those persons who withdraw consent during the entry
screening process.
D. Personal belongings not screened will be denied access into the facility.
VI1. BOOKING METAL DETECTOR CLEARANCE
A. The Booking I Officer shall ensure that all arrestees clear the metal
detector without activating it prior to being accepted from the transporting
agency at the time of booking.
1. If an inmate continues to set off the metal detector and the
arresting/transporting officer is unable to locate the item causing
the activation, a hand-held metal detector shall be used to
thoroughly search the prisoner.
2. If there is doubt about the acceptability of a prisoner due to
continued activation of the metal detector, the Booking Sergeant is
to be contacted immediately to make a further determination on the
acceptability of the inmate.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: METAL DETECTOR CLEARANCE NO: D-270
FILE: METAL DETECTOR
3. If circumstances are such that a strip search of the inmate is
warranted, all applicable policies shall be followed (see D-
240/Searches of Inmates and Housing Units [FILE: SEARCHES]).
Vill. HOUSING UNITS - INMATE CLEARANCE
A. The philosophy behind the decentralized service system (where the
services are brought to the inmate instead of bringing the inmate to the
service) is to allow for better security. If an inmate is only routed on the
floor, there is no reason to search the inmate unless the officer feels it is
necessary (e.g., returning from a private interview or a medical
appointment).
B. Whenever an inmate leaves or returns to the floor, they shall be pat-
searched and required to clear the metal detector.
1. The exception to this policy is during mass movement of inmates,
such as when going to or from recreation. During mass movement,
randomly selected inmates (in a number which does not cause an
unreasonable delay)shall be selected and pat-searched. However,
ALL inmates shall be required to clear the metal detector.
C. If an inmate repeatedly activates the metal detector and the officer is
unable to locate the item causing the activation:
1. The Facility Sergeant shall be notified
2. The inmate shall be strip-searched
3. A JREP report shall be written
D. Officers always have the discretion to search an inmate at ANY time
while they are in custody.
IX. METAL DETECTOR MAINTENANCE
A. The sensitivity of the metal detectors shall not be tampered with, and all
maintenance problems shall be reported to the Services Unit
immediately. Correctional staff shall not move, alter or adjust the
sensitivity or settings of the equipment unless designated or directed to
do so by a supervisor.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: METAL DETECTOR CLEARANCE NO: D-270
FILE: METAL DETECTOR
B. The metal detectors are self-calibrating. However, it shall be the
responsibility of the Services Unit to ensure that the machines are
inspected and the calibration is tested on a semi-annual basis.
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