Section 2602.140  Security

a)         Searches

Youth permitted to leave the facility grounds temporarily, for any reason, shall be thoroughly searched prior to leaving and before reentering. A strip search may be administered only when there is individualized, reasonable suspicion.

b)         Training

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

c)         Detention Security

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

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

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

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

d)         Light Switches

Electric light switches shall be in the corridor. Light switches shall be key operated.

e)         Detention Windows

All glass shall be wire reinforced, heavy safety type or high tempered, measuring at least one-fourth inch thick. All detention windows that 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.

f)         Room Searches

Frequent but irregularly scheduled searches 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 the youth's rights. Room searches should be conducted with the youth observing the procedure, whenever possible.

g)         Body Searches and Viewing – PREA

1)         The facility shall not conduct cross-gender strip searches or cross-gender visual body cavity searches (e.g., a search of the anal or genital opening) except in exigent circumstances or when performed by medical practitioners.

2)         The agency shall not conduct cross-gender pat-down searches except in exigent circumstances.

3)         The facility shall document and justify all cross-gender strip searches, cross-gender visual body cavity searches and cross-gender pat-down searches.

4)         The facility shall implement policies and procedures that enable youth to shower, perform bodily functions and change clothing without nonmedical staff of the opposite gender viewing their breasts, buttocks or genitalia, except in exigent circumstances or when the viewing is incidental to routine cell checks. Policies and procedures shall require staff of the opposite gender to announce their presence when entering a resident housing unit. In facilities (such as group homes) that do not contain discrete housing units, staff of the opposite gender shall be required to announce their presence when entering an area where residents are likely to be showering, performing bodily functions or changing clothing.

5)         The facility shall not search or physically examine a transgender or intersex youth for the sole purpose of determining the youth's genital status. If the youth's genital status is unknown, it may be determined during conversations with the youth, by reviewing medical records, or, if necessary, by learning that information as part of a broader medical examination conducted in private by a medical practitioner.

6)         The agency shall train security staff in how to conduct cross-gender pat-down searches, and searches of transgender and intersex youth, in a professional and respectful manner, and in the least intrusive manner possible, consistent with security needs. (See Section 315 of PREA.)

h)         Makeshift Weapons

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

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

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

3)         Tools and equipment shall be listed and inventoried after each use.

i)          Maintenance

Any damaged or nonfunctioning security equipment must be promptly repaired. When it is necessary for outside maintenance to work in a detention living area, all youth shall be removed from the area and the living area carefully searched before youth are readmitted. Maintenance tools shall be carefully checked into and out of the detention area.

j)          Access to Records by Youth

No youth shall be assigned work that requires access to personal records of youth currently or previously in detention nor to staff personnel records.

k)         Population Count

A master population or locator board shall be established and maintained at the control center indicating the various group living areas and housing assignments. A head count shall be made and recorded at least four times daily, including counts taken at change of shift and night lockup.

l)          Key Control

Detention keys shall be stored in a secure key locker when not in use. There shall 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. An inventory of all keys shall be made at the beginning of each shift. Youth shall not be permitted to handle, use or have detention keys of any type in their possession.

m)        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.  Weapons shall be stored in a secure and locked drawer, cabinet or container outside the security area.

n)         Emergency Power Source

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