Loading...
PROPERTY - ACCEPTANCE & STORAGE C-420 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TITLE: INMATE PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE, STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE NO: C-420 FILE: PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE AND STORAGE EFFECTIVE DATE: 04-29-91 REVISED: 12-25-s4, 07-01-01, 08-01-02, 01-01-12, 11-01-12, 02-01-21 AUTHORITY: Sheriff M. Mims APPROVED BY: Assistant Sheriff T. Gattie REFERENCE: Government Code Section 26640; Penal Code Sections 4003, 4573, 4573.5, and 4573.6; and California Code of Regulations, Title 15 Section 1264; PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to establish and maintain a consistent method of accepting and storing inmate property. POLICY: It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriffs Office Jail Division that the Booking I Officer on duty shall be solely responsible for the secure handling and safekeeping of all inmate property accepted from transporting officers until the inmate property is forwarded to the Jail Records area for filing and storage. The safekeeping of all inmate property bags in the Records Office shall be the responsibility of the Money/Property Officer assigned for that shift. The property bags shall be filed and secured in the property bag storage room adjoining the Records Office. It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriffs Office Jail Division that all arrestees shall receive a receipt for their property at the time they are booked into custody. It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriffs Office Jail Division that the only property accepted for inmates in custody shall be for prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, and clothing to wear during a jury trial. Page 1 of 10 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TITLE: INMATE PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE, STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE NO: C-420 FILE: PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE AND STORAGE PROCEDURES: I. ARRESTING/TRANSPORTING OFFICER'S RESPONSIBILITY The arresting/transporting officer shall ensure that all personal property be removed from the arrestee. A. All medications need to be shown to the Booking Nurse prior to placement into a property bag. B. The following items are considered admissible and may be returned to the inmate to be maintained in their possession- 1. Prescription eyeglasses 2. Non-metal framed reading glasses 3. Telephone numbers and addresses 4. Hearing aids 5. Dentures 6. Prostheses 7. Legal documents 8. Some medications, if approved by medical staff (e.g., nitroglycerine, asthma inhalants). 9. Religious head coverings (if a jail-issued religious head covering is unavailable, the inmate may keep their personal head covering until a suitable substitute can be obtained). [Refer to E-190/Religious Head Coverings(FILE: RELIGIOUS HEAD COVERINGS).] C. The following items will NOT be accepted and cannot be stored within the Fresno County Detention Facilities. The item shall be retained by the arresting agency and handled in accordance with their established policy: 1. Ammunition and/or firearms 2. Chemical agents (mace, tear gas, etc.) 3. Marijuana (including medicinal marijuana) Page 2 of 10 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TITLE: INMATE PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE, STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE NO: C-420 FILE: PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE AND STORAGE 4. Perishable items 5. Any item that cannot be secured inside a brown paper bag (including backpacks, bicycles, crutches, etc.) D. All property shall be inventoried and placed into a property bag. 1. Metallic items shall be listed as w/m (white metal) or y/m (yellow metal), not as silver or gold. 2. Jewels and gemstones shall be described by their color (e.g., clear or red, not diamonds and rubies). 3. Have the inmate sign the property bag confirming their agreement with the inventory of the contents. E. Any property that will not fit into a property bag shall be placed into one of the following- 1. Second property bag. Staple the bags together and write a notation on each property bag (i.e., 1 of 2, 2 of 2). 2. Brown paper bag. Backpacks and purses shall have all valuable items (wallet, credit cards, jewelry, personal checks, keys, medications, pocket knives, etc.) removed and included in the property bag. All monies shall be deposited into the automated electronic TouchPay kiosk. [Refer to policy C-410/Inmate Money(FILE: MONEY).] a. Complete a property tag and attach the top portion to the bulk property. b. The bottom portion shall be securely attached to the inmate's property bag (i.e., the small plastic property bag). c. The bulk property bag shall be closed and sealed with evidence tape. F. The property bag, initialed cash deposit receipt, arrest tag, and any other arrest documents, shall be given to the Booking I Officer or their designee. Page 3 of 10 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TITLE: INMATE PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE, STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE NO: C-420 FILE: PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE AND STORAGE II. INMATES TRANSFERRED FROM OTHER FACILITIES A. In addition to the items enumerated in Section I(B), inmates transferred from other facilities may retain- 1. Five (5) paperback books 2. Two (2) current newspapers 3. Six (6) magazines 4. A dictionary 5. A religious text or holy book (e.g., Bible, Qur'an) B. Inmates transferred from other facilities may also retain possession of items comparable to those currently offered on commissary. [Refer to Addendum D-335A for a full list of items and any limitations.] 1. Writing materials 2. Hygiene, healthcare, clothing and personal items (e.g., cups, bowls, cosmetics, playing cards). 3. Non-perishable food items. a. Food items must be sealed in unopened, original containers. b. No foil packaged items are permitted. All plastic containers must be made out of a soft/pliable/bendable plastic. c. Perishable items are not accepted. No products requiring refrigeration or cooking are permitted. (Foods requiring heating or reconstituting are acceptable.) III. INMATE PROPERTY BAG HANDLING A. The Booking I Officer (or their designee) shall place the inmate's arrest paperwork and property bag inside a glassine bag. If there are any unauthorized items (e.g., bullets) listed on the property bag, the bag shall be returned to the transporting officer for processing. B. As part of the booking process, the Booking Officer shall transfer the information listed on the property bag onto the inmate's PROPERTY screen. Page 4 of 10 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TITLE: INMATE PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE, STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE NO: C-420 FILE: PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE AND STORAGE 1. If the writing on the inmate property bag is illegible, that fact shall be noted in the COMMENTS section of the PROPERTY screen and as much information as possible concerning the property shall be noted in the DESCRIPTION field. 2. The property bag shall not be opened or unsealed to further inventory an inmate's property. 3. If the inmate has bulk property, the property tag number shall be listed in the BULK PROPERTY # field of the PROPERTY screen and a notation made in the COMMENTS section. C. The inmate will be given a receipt for their property at the time they are booked into custody. D. At designated times throughout the shift, an officer designated by the Booking I Officer shall be assigned to route all inmate property bags to the Money/Property Officer in Records. 1. If the inmate is to be processed for release (e.g., citation), the Money/Property Officer shall forward the property to the Lobby for release. 2. If the inmate is going to remain in custody, the property shall be stored in the Jail Records Property Room. IV. INMATE PROPERTY BAG STORAGE A. Property bags shall be accurately filed and secured in the inmate property bag storage room adjacent to the Jail Records Office. Access shall be limited to staff members assigned to the Money/Property Officer positions, Sergeants, Lieutenants, or other person specifically authorized by a Watch Commander. 1. All inmate property bags received in the Records area during a shift shall be filed away and securely stored before the end of that shift. 2. All inmate property bags shall be filed according to the first letter of the last name and the last two digits of the booking number. 3. When filing bags, ensure that a second bag does not exist. If a second bag already exists, make the proper notations (1 of 2, 2 of 2). Page 5 of 10 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TITLE: INMATE PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE, STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE NO: C-420 FILE: PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE AND STORAGE B. Anytime it is necessary to add property to that already stored for an inmate, a second property bag shall be utilized and completed in the same manner as the original. The second property bag shall be sealed and stapled to the inmate's original property bag and the proper notations made. The original bag shall not be opened to add inmate property. C. Inmate property bags shall not be opened or unsealed until the inmate is released from custody unless authorized by policy for release or seizure. [Refer to policies C-450/Inmate Property Release (FILE: PROPERTY - RELEASE) and C- 455/Inmate Property Search and Seizure (FILE: SEARCH AND SEIZURE).] V. BULK PROPERTY Inmate property that does not fit into the property bag shall be considered bulk property. A. All bulk property shall be placed into a brown paper bag and sealed with evidence tape. The bag shall have a completed property tag attached to it by the transporting officer. The top portion shall be securely attached to the bulk property and the bottom portion shall be securely attached to the inmate's property bag. B. Arrestees who have backpacks or purses that will not fit into an inmate property bag shall have all valuable items (wallet, credit cards, jewelry, keys, etc.) removed by the transporting officer and included in the property bag. The backpack or purse shall then be placed into a brown paper bag and sealed with evidence tape. C. Bulk property that cannot be secured inside a brown paper bag shall not be accepted for storage. The item shall be retained by the arresting agency and handled in accordance with their established policy. D. In order to accommodate the inmate's ability to release their personal belongings, or to reduce the amount of personal belongings in the cell, it may be necessary to transfer the inmate's personal possessions into a bulk property bag. 1. The excess property and/or personal effects that the inmate wants to release may be placed into a brown paper bag. The receiving officer shall be responsible to: Page 6 of 10 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TITLE: INMATE PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE, STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE NO: C-420 FILE: PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE AND STORAGE a. Seal the bag with evidence tape and complete a property tag. The top portion shall be securely attached to the bulk property. b. Ensure that the property tag number is listed in the BULK PROPERTY # field of the PROPERTY screen and a notation made in the COMMENTS section. c. Document the items taken in an incident report. d. Transport the bag to Jail Records. The Money/Property Officer will be responsible to attach the bottom portion of the property tag to the inmate's property bag and ensure the bulk property is securely stored. VI. BULK PROPERTY HANDLING AND STORAGE Bulk property shall be routed accordingly: A. If the inmate is to be processed for release (e.g., citation), the bulk property shall be forwarded to the Lobby for release. B. If the inmate is going to remain in custody, the bulk property shall be forwarded to the Money/Property Officer. The Money/Property Officer shall confirm that the proper notation was made on the inmate's PROPERTY screen (BULK PROPERTY #) and ensure the bag is securely stored in the Bulk Property Storage room. Bulk property is stored by the first letter of the last name. VI I. MAINTENANCE OF INMATE PROPERTY A. It shall be the responsibility of each shift assigned to Records to coordinate their efforts in auditing and purging the property filing system as scheduled: Platoon Responsible to Audit During the Last Week of Platoon Al A through F January, May, September Platoon A2 G through L February, June, October Platoon 131 M through R March, July, November Platoon B2 S through Z April, August, December Page 7 of 10 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TITLE: INMATE PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE, STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE NO: C-420 FILE: PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE AND STORAGE B. The designated officers shall ensure the following: 1. The property bag has been filed correctly. 2. The inmate is still in custody. C. If a property bag is discovered that belongs to an inmate who is no longer in custody, the discovering officer shall: 1. Complete an incident report. 2. Notify the Booking/Records Sergeant. [Refer to policy C-460/Inmate Property and Money-Lost and Unclaimed (FILE: PROPETY —LOST&UNCLAIMED).] Vill. ACCEPTING PROPERTY A. Prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses may be brought to the Main Jail Lobby. The receiving officer shall initiate a new PROPERTY screen and select the appropriate ITEM from the drop-down field (e.g., glasses, contact lenses, court clothing—family, court clothing—professional). The name and identification of the person leaving the items shall be noted in the COMMENTS section, along with the date and the accepting officer's name and computer number. Contact lenses must be delivered in manufacturer-sealed containers. B. With the exception of court clothing, no other personal property shall be accepted for an inmate in custody without the approval of the Watch Commander. [Refer to policy E-110/Inmate Clothing (FILE: CLOTHING).] IX. MEDICAL RECORDS Personal medical records belonging to the inmate are to be stored using the following procedures. A. The medical record is to be placed in a manila envelope, sealed, and delivered to Jail Records. B. A bulk property tag shall be filled out and the top portion securely attached to the manila envelope. The Money/Property Officer will then be responsible to: Page 8 of 10 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TITLE: INMATE PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE, STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE NO: C-420 FILE: PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE AND STORAGE 1. Ensure the proper notation is made on the inmate's PROPERTY screen (i.e., BULK PROPERTY #). 2. Attach the bottom portion of the property tag to the inmate's property bag. 3. Store the envelope in the designated file cabinet in the Jail Records Property Room (not the Bulk Property Storage room). C. When the inmate is processed for release, the Money/Property Officer will retrieve the envelope and include it with all other property to be released to the inmate. D. An inmate may release their medical records to a person of their choosing upon completion of a Property Release Authority(J-27) form, per normal procedures for releasing property. The inmate MUST sign the release form, no exceptions. [Refer to policy C-450/Inmate Property Release (FILE: PROPERTY—RELEASE).] X. PERSONAL PROPERTY FOUND IN THE POSSESSION OF AN INMATE A. Personal property found in the possession of an inmate after they have left the booking area that has an estimated value of $5 or more (e.g., watches, rings, jewelry, sunglasses, keys, etc.) shall be confiscated and forwarded to the Facility Sergeant, who will ensure that the property is placed into an inmate property bag and filed with the inmate's property in Jail Records. 1. An incident report and rule violation report shall be written. 2. The new inmate property bag shall be attached to and filed with the inmate's property bag completed at the time of booking. B. If the property found has an estimated value of less than $5 (e.g., ink pens, handkerchiefs, etc.), the property shall be confiscated and may either be forwarded to the Facility Sergeant, or discarded by the officer (with the approval of the Sergeant). An incident report and rule violation shall be written. Any property to be discarded shall be photographed and attached to the report. Excess food, trash, broken personal items, and destroyed clothing and bedding may be thrown away without approval. Page 9 of 10 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TITLE: INMATE PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE, STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE NO: C-420 FILE: PROPERTY —ACCEPTANCE AND STORAGE XI. OTHER STORAGE ISSUES A. When an inmate leaves the facility on a 90-day observation or extended pass, any property they wish to leave at the facility shall be inventoried and stored in the Bulk Property Storage room. The property shall be placed into a brown paper bag, stapled closed and clearly marked with the inmate's name and Booking/JID numbers. The bag shall be stored in the storage room filed alphabetically under the first letter of the inmate's last name. (Refer to Section V.) B. When an inmate is placed into a safety cell or observation cell, any jail- issued bedding, linen, or clothing that is not retained by the inmate while in the cell shall be sent to the Laundry. The inmate's property shall be searched, inventoried and placed into a brown paper bag, stapled closed and clearly marked with the inmate's name and Booking/JID numbers. The bag shall be stored: 1. Main Jail - in the Clothing Room in the storage area designated for safety cell placements. 2. West Annex Jail — in the mezzanine storage area. C. Inmates placed into discipline cells shall have their property inventoried and stored in the nearest area designated for discipline storage. [Refer to policy E-230/Inmate Discipline (FILE: DISCIPLINE) for a list of items allowed to be retained.] Page 10 of 10