Policy Text
I.1 EMERGENCY ALARM SYSTEMS Page 1 of 2
#19//05 San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Detention Services Bureau – Manual of Policies and Procedures
PURPOSE
To provide a means for detention facility staff and inmates to summon emergency assistance.
POLICY
All detention facilities shall maintain alarm systems that are manually or automatically activated for
staff, inmate and facility security protection.
PROCEDURE
I. STAFF ALARM SYSTEM
A. Each facility shall have a staff alarm system to allow staff to summon assistance
immediately in the event of an escape attempt, assault, or other incident which threatens
the safety and security of the facility, employees or inmates.
B. Such alarm systems shall be connected to a central control area to ensure a constant
monitoring of the alarms with appropriate, timely assistance dispatched to the scene of
any alarm.
C. The control d eputy shall log into the Jail Information Management System (JIMS) all
alarms indicating date, time, location, and disposition. The disposition shall include
information as to the cause of the alarm such as, “medical”, “fight”, “accidental”, etc.
D. The control d eputy shall test each system at the beginning of each shift.
E. Each activation of the alarm other than testing (see D above) must be cleared by the
control d eputy. To clear the alarm the control d eputy shall:
1. Establish visual contact with the employee who activated the alarm in the control
area to ensure the employee’s well being (or verify the employee’s well being by
an independent source, i.e., send a d eputy with instructions to call back with a
prearranged “code”);
3. Reset the alarm panel
DATE: JULY 1, 2019
NUMBER: I.1
SUBJ ECT: EMERGENCY ALARM SYSTEMS
RELATED SECTIONS: H.1, H.2, H.4, H.5, H.7, I.32
I.1 EMERGENCY ALARM SYSTEMS Page 2 of 2
#19//05
II. INMATE EMERGENCY ALARM SYSTEM
A. Each facility shall maintain an inmate emergency alarm system. The system shall consist
of alarm but tons in each housing unit, holding room, or area where inmates are routinely
held and terminate in control. The alarm buttons should be readily identifiable as an
emergency system and be located as to provide ready access to the inmate.
B. When the alarm is activated , the control deputy shall dispatch assistance, log the
information, and clear the alarm as I.B, C and E (above).
III. FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
A. Each facility shall maintain fire/smoke detection devices in all sleeping areas and areas
not separated from sle eping areas.
B. Fire/smoke detection devices shall be maintained throughout the detention facility and
inspected on a quarterly basis. The following alarm types should be strategically placed
and readily identified as an emergency system:
1. Manual Pull Alarm
2. Smoke Detectors
3. Heat Sensors
4. Sprinkler System
C. Response to, testing and maintenance of the fire alarm system is delineated in DSB P &P
Section H.
D. All personnel are required to familiarize themselves and receive training on activation of
and response to a fire alarm situation.