Section 702.140  Security

a)         Introduction

1)         Good security procedures are determined by staff members' attentiveness to policies and procedures.  Apathy, temporary lapse of caution, and ignoring procedures for personal convenience are major causes of breakdown in custody procedures.

2)         Detention staff must realize the importance of their role in providing the treatment, care, and custody of youth placed in their charge.

b)         Minimum Standards

1)         Searches

Youth permitted to leave the facility grounds temporarily, for any reason, shall be thoroughly searched prior to leaving and before reentering.

2)         Training

Staff members and other personnel assigned to detention duties must be trained in security measures and handling special incidents such as assault, disturbance, fire, and natural disasters.

3)         Detention Security

Staff members only must exercise and control security measures and shall not permit youth assistance.

A)        All detention locks and doors shall be regularly and frequently inspected to ensure their proper working order and to detect escape efforts.

B)        Living unit doors opening into a corridor shall be kept locked except when necessary to permit entry or exit.

C)        Detention rooms and storage rooms shall be kept locked at all times when not in use.

4)         Light Switches

Electric light switches shall be located in the corridor. Light switches shall be key operated.  This standard is waived for existing facilities.

5)         Detention Windows

All glass shall be wire reinforced, heavy safety type or high tempered, measuring at least one-fourth inch thick.   All detention windows which can be opened shall be covered with stainless-steel mesh detention screen with  minimum 800 psi (12 strands per inch) and spring mounted with lock controlled frame mounted flush with the inside wall.

6)         Shakedown

Frequent but irregularly scheduled shakedown of youth and their quarters shall be made to detect the presence of weapons and other contraband, and should be orderly and with recognition of youth's rights.

7)         Makeshift Weapons

After use, tools and equipment shall be accounted for by the staff member on duty and returned to their proper storage space.

A)        Eating utensils shall be accounted for after each meal and returned to the kitchen.

B)        Kitchen cutlery, i.e., paring knives, butcher knives, etc., shall be listed and inventoried daily.

8)         Maintenance

Any damaged or nonfunctioning security equipment must be promptly repaired.

9)         Access to Keys and Records by Youth

Youth shall not be permitted to handle, use or have detention keys of any type in their possession.   No youth shall be assigned work that requires access to personnel records of persons currently or previously in detention nor to staff personnel records.

10)         Population Count

A head count shall be made and recorded at least four times daily, including counts taken at change of shift and night lockup.

11)         Key Control

Detention keys must be stored in a secure key locker when not in use.  There must be at least one full set of detention keys, separate from those in use, stored in a safe place accessible only to staff members for use in an emergency.

12)         Firearms and Other Weapons

No person, including law enforcement personnel, shall be permitted to enter any section of the detention area with a gun or other weapon on his person.  Weapons shall be stored in a secure and locked drawer, cabinet or container outside the security area.

13)         Emergency Power Source

An emergency electrical power source shall be available in the event of a power failure.

c)         Recommendations

1)         Room search should be conducted with the youth observing the procedure, whenever possible.

2)         Glass or metal items should not be permitted in the detention area.

3)         Youth should not be permitted unsupervised access to windows.

4)         A master population or locator board should be established and maintained at the control center indicating the various group living areas and housing assignments.

5)         Population count at shift change should have the incoming staff member make the count with the staff member being relieved assisting.

6)         Staff members should conduct population spot checks at least hourly.

7)         An inventory of all keys should be made at the beginning of each shift.

8)         Shadow boards should be provided to assist in control of tools.

9)         There should be a receipting system for issuance of tools to employees.

10)         When it is necessary for outside maintenance men to work in a detention living area, all youth should be removed from the area and the living area carefully searched before youth are readmitted.  Maintenance tools should be carefully checked into and out of the detention area.

11)         Automobiles in the detention facility parking lot should be kept locked.

12)         Walls, windows, and floors of the detention area should be regularly and frequently inspected and kept clear of large posters, pictures, calendars, and articles of clothing which might be used to conceal escape attempts.  Small photographs of family or friends are acceptable.

(Source:  Amended at 12 Ill. Reg. 12340, effective October 1, 1988)