Policy Text
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RCCC
Correctional Canine Unit
The purpose of this Order is to outline the duties and responsi bilities of the Correctional
Canine Unit. The unit is being es tablished to maintain jail sa fety and security by using
narcotic detecting canines to proactively search for narcotics within Department
correctional facilities. I. General
The Correctional Canine Unit has the primary responsibility to sniff for narcotics and
narcotic odor that pose a threat to the safety and security of SSD correctional facilities.
In order to minimize the amoun t of narcotics in correctional fa cilities, departmental
canines trained in the detection o f narcotics may be used to sn iff all areas of
correctional facilities where in mates are allowed access. Depa rtmental canines may
also be used to conduct narcotic sniffs of facility perimeters, public visiting areas,
lobbies, transportation vehicl es, inmate mail, facility parking lots and storage lockers.
The Correctional Canine may be used to search a facility’s publ ic lobby or unsecured
visiting areas only if the area is clear of the public. The Co rrectional Canine may be
used for other reasons as deemed appropriate and authorized by the Canine Sergeant.
II. Utilization
A. The Correctional Canine shall only be used for the detection of narcotics.
B. The Correctional Canine will conduct narcotic sniffs through out their
assigned shifts to include:
1. Self-initiated narcotic sniffs that involve random sweeps of areas
and/or items;
2. Requests to conduct a narcotic sniff of a specific area or i tem in
response to suspicious activity or received intelligence;
3. The Correctional Canine may be used outside SSD facilities w ith
permission from the Canine Sergeant or designee.
III. Deployment Guidelines
A. Housing units and facility sni ffs with the assistance of a C orrectional
Canine will be done both on a pre-scheduled and a random basis.
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RCCC B. The Correctional Canine team s will be assigned to an area wi thin the
facility which will a llow for maximum utiliz ation of the canine . In order to
achieve this, the Correctional C anine team should be permitted to conduct
canine related activities whenev er called upon unless exigent
circumstances exist. 1. Prior to a canine entering any facility, inmate movement sho uld be
restricted in the affected areas . Inmates housed in areas dire ctly
affected by a canine sniff shall be removed. Inmate movement
should remain restricted until t he canine exits the facility.
2. At no time shall a canine come into contact with an inmate o r be
used to sniff citizens in public areas of the facility. The ca nine shall
not be used for any other enforcement action.
3. The canine shall remain on a leash at all times when moving
through a facility. The leash may be removed by the handler
whenever the canine conducts a nar cotics sniff of a specific ce ll or
area, and there is no possibility of inmate or public contact.
4. All inmates shall be removed from any housing cell or area t o be
searched by a canine. All citiz ens are to be cleared from any public
area to be sniffed.
5. A deputy assigned to the facilit y shall assist in the proces sing of
contraband, complete any discipl inary write-ups, and assist in
writing criminal reports res ulting from the canine sniff.
C. The Correctional Canine team s will be assigned to an area wi thin the
facility which will a llow for maximum utiliz ation of the canine . In order to
achieve this, the Correctional C anine team should be permitted to conduct
canine related activities whenev er called upon unless exigent
circumstances exist.
IV. Training
A. All training shall be conduct ed in a manner that ensures the consistency
and reliability of performance for the handler and canine.
B. Formal training sessions wil l be conducted on a weekly basis at a time
and location designated by the canine sergeant/trainer. Each h andler will
be required to assist with traini ng at the direction of the Can ine Sergeant.
Training will consist of a mini mum of 4 hours per week (per POS T).
C. Canine handlers shall use c aution while using narcotic trai ning aids in
order to prevent cross contaminat ion, loss of narcotic aids, an d possible
unintended exposure to the c anine, citizens and deputies.
V. Documentation of Training and Statistics
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RCCC
A. Canine Officer shall: 1. Following each weekly traini ng session, a record shall be made of
such training. Each canine han dler will be responsible for
completing a canine training log at the conclusion of each trai ning
session. The training logs shal l be forwarded to the Canine
Sergeant (see Appendix 1).
2. Each handler will be responsible for keeping track of thei r daily
stats, and a monthly report s hall be forwarded to the canine
sergeant no later than the fifth day of the following month (se e