Policy Text
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MJ/RCCC
OPERATIONS ORDER
Prisoner Searches
The purpose of this Order is to e stablish search policy and pro cedures at the Main Jail
and the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center (RCCC).
I. Policy
All prisoners will be searched in a professional and lawful man ner in order to maintain
the security of the facilities and ensure the safety of the sta ff and inmates. Prisoners will
be searched upon entering either facility and at any other time as determined necessary
and lawful by custody staff. II. Procedures
A. Main Jail
1. Intake Pat Searches
a. A systematic and thorough pat down search shall be
conducted by booking intake s taff on all arrestees detained
in the building.
b. The pat down search sha ll, whenever possible, be
conducted by staff of the sa me sex as the arrestee.
c. Staff shall only search one arrestee at a time. d. The pat down search shall occu r in the Intake Sally Port are a
prior to the arrestee entering further into the facility.
e. Intake staff shall use the type of search, level of force an d
means of restraint necessary to conduct a thorough search of combative, uncooperative or high-risk arrestees.
2. Routine Inmate Searches
a. Routine inmate searches may be conducted for the following
purposes:
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MJ/RCCC (1) To prevent the introduction of weapons into the facility
or to detect the presence of weapons or contraband in
the facility.
(2) To gather information nece ssary for the security of the
facility and its’ occupants.
(3) To preserve evidence (4) To retrieve or prevent t he destruction of Department
property.
(5) To discover evidence of an escape. (6) To detect inmate medical conditions
b . I n m a t e s s h a l l a l w a y s b e s e a r c h e d :
(1) During booking. (2) Prior to housing assignment. (3) Prior to reentry into the secure portion of a facility
after leaving.
(4) Whenever an inmate worke r returns to their housing
unit after a job assignment.
(5) Whenever staff members have reasonable suspicion
to believe that an inmate has weapons or contraband in their possession.
3. Strip Searches
a. All strip searches shall be c onducted individually and in an
area of privacy so that the sear ch can be observed only by
officers participating in the search. Only necessary personnel shall be present durin g the search. At least two
sworn personnel shall par ticipate in a search.
b. Only post-conviction inmates may be strip searched without
cause during normal facility operations.
(1) CDC inmates and others with a similar status
(inmates with search wai ver conditions) are post-
conviction inmates subject to strip search without cause.
c. All pre-conviction inmates who will be housed in the general
population of the facility , detained on misdemeanor or
infraction charges, may be stri p searched only under one or
more of the following circumstances:
(1) Prior to placement in a housing unit and subsequent
to a fresh arrest that involved weapons, controlled substances or violence, and supervisor approval is
first obtained.
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MJ/RCCC
(a) Strip searches based on weapons, controlled
substances or violence must occur prior to housing placement. After housing placement, reasonable suspicion will be required.
(b) Determination of whether a fresh arrest falls
within the weapons, cont rolled substance or
violence category should be interpreted conservatively i.e. err on the side of not strip
searching.
(2) Prior to placement in a housing unit subsequent to a
fresh arrest when there exis ts a reasonable suspicion
based on specific and arti culable facts that the
arrestee may be posse ssing contraband and
supervisor approval is first obtained.
(3) Prior to the return o f an inmate from medical
appointments, court, intra-fac ility moves, inter-facility
moves, housing area sear ches or other movement
when there exists a reaso nable suspicion based on
specific and articulable fact s that the arrestee may be
possessing contraband and s upervisor approval is
first obtained.
d. Strip searches shall be conduc ted in an area of privacy so
that only those participating can view the search. Persons
are considered to be participa ting when their official duty
requires they be present.
(1) Participants in a strip sear ch shall be of the same sex
as the inmate unless exigent circumstances exist or the participants are medical staff.
(2) As a practical note- A si ngle staff member can search
a group of males who have been partitioned off from
onlookers and each other but a re still visible to the
staff member(s) participati ng in the search. Females
arrestees shall not be strip searched as a group since
individualized partitions are not currently available.
e. Staff shall complete the Strip Search Form whenever a pre-
conviction inmate detained on misdemeanor or infraction
charges is strip searched. The authorizing supervisor shall
sign the Form before the strip search is conducted. The
form shall include the circum