SUBSTANCE ABUSE E-460 FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY PROGRAMS NO: E-460
FILE: SUBSTANCE ABUSE
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12-17-90 REVISED: 12-25-94, 11-01-99, 11-01-12, 07-16-20
AUTHORITY: Sheriff J. Zanoni APPROVED BY: Assistant Sheriff T. Gattie
REFERENCE: California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Section 1070.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this policy is to provide voluntary services to inmates with substance
abuse problems.
POLICY:
It is the policy of the Fresno County Sheriffs Office Jail Division to provide inmate access
to programs that promote sobriety and help motivated offenders to connect with
substance abuse recovery programs. Substance abuse recovery services are focused
on providing inmates with the necessary knowledge, insight and skills so that recovery
can continue when they are released from jail.
PROCEDURES:
I. SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD) SERVICES
A. The SUD program is a voluntary program that provides individualized,
integrative services that promotes sobriety through the use of therapeutic
services and psychoeducation. The SUD program incorporates a holistic
approach that addresses the inmate's mental health, personal health,
family, work, and environmental factors that combine to foster long-term
success.
B. Inmates interested in the SUD program may either be referred by a
provider or submit a Health Services Request Form to SUD Services.
C. A designated Mental Health clinician will perform a comprehensive
mental health assessment and appraisal of the inmate's needs. The
clinician will prepare an individualized written treatment plan based upon
information obtained in the assessment process.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY PROGRAMS NO: E-460
FILE: SUBSTANCE ABUSE
D. A designated SUD counselorwill perform a multidimensional assessment
to identify the intensity of services that best fits the inmate's needs using
the Fresno County SUD ASAM Screening' form. Based on the inmate's
needs, the SUD program can provide individual and group counseling,
case or care management, and/or peer support.
II. AA/NA MEETINGS
A. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings
are offered to inmates on a voluntary basis. Meetings are facilitated by
representatives from AA and NA who have been previously screened for
jail access.2
B. General population inmates interested in attending AA/NA meetings must
submit an Inmate Request Form indicating their interest. Inmates housed
in locations not scheduled for AA/NA meetings (e.g., administrative
segregation) may request "Twelve Step" program materials from the
Offender Programs Unit.
C. If an inmate has been ordered by the court to attend AA/NA meetings,
the inmate needs to note as such on their request form. Due to class
size restrictions, inmates who have been ordered by the court to attend
AA/NA meetings will be given priority over other inmates. (Meetings are
limited to forty (40) inmates per class.)
D. AA and NA are not religious organizations, but the "Twelve Steps" of
recovery do subscribe to the belief in a "higher power." Inmates who self-
identify as atheist or agnostic should be offered the pamphlet "The God
Word: Agnostic and Atheist Members in A.A." for consideration. (Refer
to Addendum B.) Such inmates may choose to request alternative
meetings with a secular (non-religious) AA/NA volunteer. If attendance
was court-ordered and an alternative meeting cannot be provided, the
court must be notified.
'American Society of Addiction Medicine
2Refer to policies D-205/Facility Access: Criteria, Identification and Restrictions (FILE: INMATE
ACCESS), E-480/Volunteers and Service Providers(FILE: VOLUNTEERS)and Addendum A.
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FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JAIL DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE: SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY PROGRAMS NO: E-460
FILE: SUBSTANCE ABUSE
III. AA/NA FACILITATOR ACCESS
A. AA/NA sponsors and guest speakers meet with inmates in group
settings. They are to proceed directly to the facility meeting location, and
upon completion of the meeting, they are to immediately leave the facility.
B. Sponsors/guest speakers shall not engage in personal conversations
with inmates, bring any books, materials, or personal items into the jail,
and shall comply with all facility rules.
C. AA/NA volunteers may provide AA/NA sponsor visits. Individual visits will
take place as non-contact visits during regular visiting hours, but will not
be counted as personal visits. Visits are limited to thirty (30) minutes and
documented via an INTERVIEW event.
IV. PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AND TERMINATION
A. Inmates with substance use disorders are encouraged to participate in
both the SUD program and AA/NA meetings. Together, the two sources
can serve to strengthen and augment each other with more positive
outcomes.
B. Inmates are expected to help with any classroom preparation or clean-
up required.
C. Inmates who refuse two (2) consecutive meetings will be put on a waitlist
to restart the corresponding program.
D. An inmate may withdraw from a program by notifying the program
facilitator verbally or in writing.
E. Inmates whose actions or conduct causes a disturbance or disrupts the
program may be removed from further participation in meetings.
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