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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 J. Zanoni 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: Page 1 of 7 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. Page 2 of 7 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. Page 3 of 7 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. Page 4 of 7 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. Page 5 of 7 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. Page 6 of 7 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. Page 7 of 7