RECREATION E-180 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: JAIL EXERCISE AND RECREATION NO: E-180
FILE: RECREATION
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01-07-91 REVISED: 12-25-94, 11-01-99, 07-01-10, 11-02-16,
03-30-17, 05-04-23
AUTHORITY: Sheriff J. Zanoni APPROVED BY: Assistant Sheriff G. Gularte
REFERENCE: Title 15, Section 1065; Spain v Procunier, 600 F.2d 189, 199 (9t" Cir.
1979); Cruz v. County of Fresno (United States District Court, Eastern District
of California, Action No. F-93-5070, February 25, 1994); Kane v. Pierce, 2009
WL 160255 (E.D. Cal. 2009); and Hall v. County of Fresno, E.D. Cal. No.
1:11-CV-02047-LJO-BAM (2015).
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this policy to establish and maintain an exercise and recreation program
for all incarcerated people in custody.
POLICY:
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriffs Office Jail Division that all incarcerated
people shall be afforded the opportunity to participate in a minimum of ten (10) hours of
out of cell time over a period of seven days to include an opportunity for three (3) hours
of exercise (1.5 hours of which must be outdoors) and an opportunity for seven (7)
hours of recreation. Travel time to and from recreation areas shall not be considered as
part of the scheduled recreation time.
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriffs Office Jail Division that recreation time
outside the housing unit will not be made up for those who are away from the housing
unit at other activities during the housing unit's regularly scheduled recreation.
Exceptions will only be made for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) housed in
administrative separation Iockdown cells.
Page 1 of 9
FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: JAIL EXERCISE AND RECREATION NO: E-180
FILE: RECREATION
PROCEDURES:
I. RECREATION - OVERVIEW
Exercise has been recognized as a basic human need and some form of
regular exercise is extremely important to the psychological and physical
well-being of all incarcerated people. Incarcerated people have a right to
out-of-cell exercise that includes a right to outdoor exercise.
Notwithstanding, both of these rights are subject to limitations or restrictions
if there is sufficient justification for such restrictions.
II. RECREATION AREAS AND TIME ALLOTMENTS
All incarcerated people are provided the opportunity to participate in
recreation and exercise in areas designed for such, a minimum of ten (10)
hours over a period of seven days. These opportunities shall include at
least three (3) hours of exercise (1.5 hours of which must be outdoors) over
a period of seven days.
A. MAIN JAIL: Incarcerated people housed in the Main Jail will utilize the
outdoor exercise area located on the roof of the facility and the indoor
recreation areas located on their assigned floor, with the exception of
the medical outpatient housing units (OHU). Incarcerated males
housed in the OHU will receive their indoor exercise time in the Main
Jail 3rd floor gymnasium; incarcerated females housed in the OHU will
receive their indoor exercise time in the Main Jail 6t" floor gymnasium.
1. Those housed in general population units shall be provided with
the opportunity to participate in at least eight (8) indoor recreation
sessions each month.
2. In addition to their regularly scheduled recreation, ALL individuals
housed in administrative separation lockdown cells (e.g., A-pods,
6F) will be provided dayroom access two (2) hours in conjunction
with their assigned shower time (i.e., odd numbered cells on odd
numbered calendar days; even numbered cells on even numbered
calendar days. All cells shall receive half-an-hour on the last day of
months with 31 days, and on February 29t" during leap years).
Page 2 of 9
FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: JAIL EXERCISE AND RECREATION NO: E-180
FILE: RECREATION
a. Incarcerated people in the dayroom will occasionally need to
be returned to their cells to facilitate the return or removal of
other movement of incarcerated people (e.g., visits). Such
temporary lockups should be minimally disruptive and not
adversely affect the overall length of time the individual has
access to the dayroom. If the lockup exceeds more than
fifteen (15) minutes, additional time should be provided to
them, commensurate to the amount of time they remained in
their cell.
B. SOUTH ANNEX JAIL: Incarcerated people housed in the South Annex
Jail will utilize the outdoor exercise areas located on the roof of the
facility and the indoor exercise areas located on the 2nd floor.
C. NORTH ANNEX JAIL: Incarcerated people housed in the North Annex
Jail shall utilize the North Annex Jail indoor-outdoor exercise areas
located on each housing floor.
D. WEST ANNEX JAIL: Incarcerated people housed in the West Annex
Jail will utilize the West Annex Jail indoor-outdoor exercise areas
located on each housing floor.
1. Housing units A through F will utilize the shared indoor-outdoor
exercise areas located on each housing floor.
2. Housing units G and H on each housing floor will use utilize their
adjoining indoor-outdoor exercise areas.
III. INCARCERATED PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI)
Should any incarcerated person with serious mental illness (SMI) be
housed in any lockdown administrative separation housing (e.g., Main Jail
A-pod, Main Jail 6F, FF-cell) that has not been scheduled to receive the
opportunity to participate in the required out of cell time, the assigning
Population Management Officer shall be responsible to notify the
supervising Population Management Sergeant and the Compliance
Sergeants. A Compliance Sergeant will be responsible to ensure the
individual receives the additional out of cell time.
Page 3 of 9
FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: JAIL EXERCISE AND RECREATION NO: E-180
FILE: RECREATION
IV. DENIAL OR LIMITATION
Any restrictions on access to exercise and/or recreation areas must be
weighed against the necessity for reasonable security of the facility and
protection of Jail staff, incarcerated people, and the public.
A. High heat indexes and hazardous air pollutants which are likely to
cause harmful health conditions will necessitate outdoor recreation to
be canceled for safety reasons. (Refer to B-190/Air Pollutants,
Extreme Temperatures and Heat-Risk Medications [FILE: WEATHER
RISKS].) Outdoor recreation will be canceled under the following
circumstances:
1. When the heat index meets or exceeds 1100F.
2. When the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 300.
3. If an incarcerated person has a "Heat Medication Warning" ALERT
and the heat index is 900 or higher.
B. Incarcerated people may be restricted from recreation time upon the
order of medical staff (e.g., an isolation/quarantine order for contagious
disease). Medical staff will be responsible to create a "No Rec" ALERT
via Offendertrak.
C. If an incarcerated person's conduct poses an acute security risk, the
individual may be temporarily denied out-of-cell exercise opportunities.
The deprivation must be individualized based on objective criteria and
clear justification that the individual's conduct poses a threat to the
safety of Jail staff or the security of the facility.
1. Any restriction to exercise and/or recreation areas withheld from an
incarcerated person based upon their conduct shall require an
incident report and prior approval from the Watch Commander.
a. If the restriction involves an SMI incarcerated person housed in
an administrative separation Iockdown cell, the Watch
Commander shall ensure that the Charge Nurse is consulted.
b. The restriction shall be lifted as soon as the acute security
threat is over.
Page 4 of 9
FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: JAIL EXERCISE AND RECREATION NO: E-180
FILE: RECREATION
c. The housing officers shall send an email to "Jail Compliance
Unit" (via Outlook) and indicate that a lockdown SMI
incarcerated person's recreation time was canceled and needs
to be rescheduled. The individual's name, JID and housing
location shall be included, as well as the reason for the
cancellation.
2. The incident report shall be forwarded to the Jail Operations
Bureau Commander indicating the identifiable risks and the
legitimate governmental purpose served by the restriction.
3. Prolonged denial of out-of-cell time shall only be enacted with
careful evaluation of the need for such a dramatic step, and with
ongoing attention to the effects the restriction is having on the
incarcerated person's mental and physical well-being.
D. If a group of incarcerated people cause a disturbance which results in
the need to implement a "lockdown," access to recreation may be
temporarily suspended until normal operations can be restored. (Refer
to Jail Policy E-220/Administrative Action [FILE: ADMIN ACTION].) If
any incarcerated person with an SMI ALERT is confined to their cell for
more than three (3) days, a Compliance Sergeant shall ensure that the
incarcerated person will be provided the opportunity to participate in
the required out of cell time.
If the circumstance of the lockdown precludes the ability to allow the
incarcerated person to attend recreation, the Charge Nurse shall be
consulted. The restriction shall be lifted as soon as the acute security
threat has ended.
E. Access to recreation may be limited during placement on disciplinary
status for violating jail rules.
1. Incarcerated people considered to be on disciplinary status will not
be provided with recreation time during their length of stay on
discipline, up to a maximum of ten (10) consecutive days.
2. Incarcerated people with serious mental illness (SMI) who are
housed in single cells (i.e., 2D or FF) will not have their recreation
time restricted, regardless of disciplinary status, except as
otherwise identified in this section (i.e., heat/AQI/medication risks,
medical order, conduct that poses an acute security risk, and
administrative actions).
Page 5 of 9
FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: JAIL EXERCISE AND RECREATION NO: E-180
FILE: RECREATION
V. RESCHEDULING MISSED RECREATION SESSIONS
A. Recreation time outside the housing unit will not be made up for those
incarcerated people who are away from the housing unit at other
activities during the housing unit's regularly scheduled recreation.
Exceptions will only be made for SMI individuals housed in
administrative separation lockdown cells.
B. Anytime an administrative separation lockdown SMI individual's
recreation is denied, a housing officer shall send an email to "Jail
Compliance Unit" via Outlook.
1. The incarcerated person's name, JID number, and housing location
shall be included in the email, as well as the reason for the
cancellation (e.g., high heat index; hazardous air pollutants; heat-
risk medication; medical order; the individual's conduct; required
attendance elsewhere - group therapy, court, etc.).
2. A Compliance Sergeant will be responsible to ensure that a make-
up session is rescheduled.
VI. RECREATION SCHEDULE
A. A recreation schedule shall be created and maintained by the Offender
Programs Manager and approved by the Jail Administration and
Programs Bureau Commander.
B. A schedule for the use of the exercise facilities will be posted in each
housing unit.
VI I. RECREATION AREA SEARCHES
A. Officers shall conduct a complete search of the recreation areas prior
to their daily use to determine if there is any contraband, faulty
equipment, or damage to the facility which may jeopardize facility
security.
1. The Floor Officers shall search indoor recreation areas on their
assigned floors each day prior to any use of the area.
2. The Yard Officers shall search the outdoor recreation areas they
are assigned to oversee each day prior to any incarcerated person
using the area.
Page 6 of 9
FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: JAIL EXERCISE AND RECREATION NO: E-180
FILE: RECREATION
B. Any deficiencies shall be reported to Jail Services and/or Offender
Programs, as applicable. Any emergency repairs shall be immediately
reported to the Facility Sergeant. (Refer to Policy Section F-210/
Maintenance Reporting & Repairs [FILE: MAINTENANCE REPAIRS].)
Vill. RECREATION SECURITY
A. Incarcerated people shall be physically counted by the officer
supervising the recreation area to ensure that all individuals have
reached the designated recreation area. That number shall be
confirmed with the housing floor officer.
B. The housing unit officers shall ensure that all incarcerated people are
accounted for upon their return to the housing unit.
C. In the event of any irregularity, the Facility Sergeant shall be
immediately notified, and appropriate action shall be taken to locate
the missing individual(s).
IX. RULES FOR THE USE OF THE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
The following rules apply to all recreation areas:
1. There will be no food or drink allowed in the recreational facilities.
2. Incarcerated people shall follow all instructions given to them by the
staff members on duty.
3. When exercising, individuals may drop their jumpsuits down to their
waists, but a T-shirt must be worn to cover their torso.
4. Gym shorts may be worn with the T-shirt in the gym and on the
yard, however, jumpsuits must be worn when going to and from the
housing unit.
5. Shoes must be worn at all times. Shower shoes are not permitted.
6. Individuals shall not abuse or deface the equipment.
7. No littering or spitting on the floor.
8. No hanging on the basketball net or rim. No kicking the
basketballs.
9. No organized group exercises.
Page 7 of 9
FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: JAIL EXERCISE AND RECREATION NO: E-180
FILE: RECREATION
10. No wrestling.
11. No graffiti.
X. DOCUMENTATION
A. All recreation participation outside the housing unit shall be
documented via the barcode reader or by manual input into the
Offendertrak system.
B. For ALL individuals housed in administrative separation lockdown cells
(e.g., Main Jail A-pods, Main Jail 6F), dayroom access shall be
documented via Offendertrak. A MOVEMENT TRACKING entry shall
be made, moving the individual to the applicable "Dayroom," as well as
returning the individual to their assigned housing unit, upon
completion.
[MOVEMENT4MOVEMENT TRACKING (ensure that INTERNAL MOVEMENT and
DESTINATION LOCATION are both selected). Click on the ellipsis4Select the appropriate
location (e.g., MJ 03 OA DAYROOM)4Click OK4Enter MOVE DATE TIME4CIick MOVE]
C. Refusal to attend recreation by any incarcerated person housed in a
lockdown cell must be documented by creating a new event.
[MISCELLANEOUS4SCHEDULING4"New" (icon)4TYPE _ (as applicable, e.g., Refusal —
Gym; Refusal — Out of Cell Recreation; or Refusal — Yard)4DESCRIPTION = (incarcerated
person's name)refused (recreation type)(time of event)(computer ID#)]
D. Any denial or restriction of any incarcerated person's recreation time
due to heat-sensitive medications, excessive heat index, or air
pollutants shall be documented by creating a new event. The Facility
Sergeant shall be notified.
[MISCELLANEOUS4SCHEDULING4"New" (icon)4TYPE = HEAT REC CANCELLATION4
DESCRIPTION =(the heat index)]
E. Any denial or restriction of any incarcerated person's recreation time
due to their conduct shall be documented via Log entry. The Facility
Sergeant shall be notified. Any denial of recreation based upon an
individual's conduct shall require prior approval from the Watch
Commander and an incident report.
[LOG4INMATE LOGO LOG TYPE =GENERAL4"New" (icon)4 (LOG TEXT="(incarcerated
person's name)denied (type of recreation)(time of event)(reason for denial)(computer ID#)"]
Page 8 of 9
FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: JAIL EXERCISE AND RECREATION NO: E-180
FILE: RECREATION
F. If any denial or restriction involves an SMI individual housed in
administrative separation lockdown, a housing officer shall send an
email to "Jail Compliance Unit" and indicate that a lockdown SMI
individual's recreation time was canceled and needs to be
rescheduled. The incarcerated person's name, JID and housing
location shall be included, as well as the reason for the cancellation.
The Compliance/Audits Sergeant will be responsible to ensure that a
make-up session is rescheduled.
G. Cancellation of an entire housing unit or facility (e.g., when the heat
index meets or exceeds 110°F) shall be documented via an incident
report.
1. The heat index temperature that caused the closure and the heat
index tool that was used to determine the heat index shall be
included in the report.
2. A separate incident report shall be written at the time that the
affected recreation area is reopened.
Page 9 of 9