SOP 209.05: Stripped Cells and Temporary Confiscation of Personal Property

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|`Functional Area: `
`Facilities Operations`|`Reference Number: `
`IIB08-0005`
`(209.05)`|`Revises`
`Previous`
`Effective Date:`
`2/01/10`|
|`Subject:`
`Stripped Cells and`
`Temporary Confiscation of`
`Personal Property`|||
|`Authority:`
`Bryson/Jacobs`|`Effective Date:`
`04/30/15`|`Page``1`` of`
5 |

I. POLICY:

   A. Under the Rules of the Board of Corrections an
      inmate/probationer shall not be placed in a cell naked
      nor shall his clothing, mattress, or bedding be removed
      unless, in the judgement of the Warden or Superintendent,
      facility/center physician, or the Mental Health Director,
      the inmate/probationer is classified as violent, or
      likely to become so, or might commit mutilation or bodily
      harm to himself or others. In such cases the
      inmate/probationer shall be placed under close
      observation [GDC Rule 125-3-2-.10 (b)].

   B. An inmate/probationer will be placed in a stripped cell
      only in an emergency, for example, if it is determined
      that he or she may use the contents of his or her cell,
      including personal items to harm himself or herself or
      staff or threaten the health or safety of others who are
      proximally confined, or if he destroys valuable state
      property and placement in a stripped cell is the least
      restrictive means of controlling that behavior. Stripped
      cells will never be used as punishment under any
      circumstances. Confinement to a stripped cell is intended
      primarily as a “cooling off” period. The degree to which
      a cell is stripped must be commensurate with the behavior
      involved (for example, the hardened cells would normally
      be used for an inmate/probationer who destroys cell
      fixtures). The temporary confiscation of personal
      property outlined in VI.C. of this procedure does not
      constitute a stripped cell.

II. APPLICABILITY:

   All State/County facilities/centers and ALL centers.

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|`Functional Area:`
`Facilities Operations`|`Effective Date:`
`04/30/15`|`Reference Number:`
`IIB08-0005`
`(209.05)`|

III. RELATED DIRECTIVES:

   A. GDC Rules: 125-3-2-.09 and 125-3-2-.10.

   B. GDC-SOPs: IIB06-0002, IIB09-0001 and VH67-0001.

   C. ACA Standards: 3-4183, 3-4253, 3-4250, 3-4251, 3-4254, 3      4255 and 3-4362.

IV. DEFINITIONS:

   A. Stripped Cell – A stripped cell is any cell from which the
      staff have removed any one of the following items (This
      does not include the temporary confiscation of personal
      property under Section VI.C. of this procedure: )

      1. A serviceable bed.

      2. A fire retardant mattress.

      3. Hot and Cold running water.

      4. Proper bedding, i.e., one pillow, one pillow case,
         one blanket (seasonal), two sheets.

      5. A working toilet.

   B. Hardened Cell – At certain MH/MR units some cells may
      contain toilets made destruction proof. The toilet shall
      be flushable from the outside. The shelf may also serve
      as a bed by the provision of a mattress, or there may be
      a separate destruction proof bed. There need not be a
      lavatory in these cells. A light fixture may be placed
      outside the cells to provide maximum lighting reasonably
      possible under the circumstances. This could also be
      designed as a closed front cell. In facilities/centers
      where hardened cells are not available, MH/MR staff may
      remove certain contents from the cell deemed dangerous to
      inmates/probationers or staff.

   C. Closed Front Cell – Closed front cells are cells with a
      closed front covering used to protect staff against an
      inmate/probationer throwing feces, urine, water or such
      acts as spitting at another person.

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`(209.05)`|

   D. MH/MR Probationers (from SOP VG67-0001) – Those
      inmates/probationers who have been evaluated by a
      Department of Corrections professional mental health
      staff member, licensed psychologist or psychiatrist who
      has determined that the inmate/probationer is either
      mentally ill and/or mentally retarded and requires
      treatment or habilitation services, or
      inmates/probationers with identified psychological
      problems as determined by counseling staff and/or mental
      health professionals and/or MH/MR professionals at all
      state or county facilities/centers, transitional centers
      or community corrections facilities.

V. ATTACHMENTS:

   Attachment 1 - Stripped Cell/Restraint Authorization Form

VI. PROCEDURE:

   A. Non-Mental Health inmate/Probationer

      1. Placement in a stripped cell shall be made only upon
         approval of the Warden or Superintendent or his or
         her designee. This approval shall be documented in
         writing using the “Stripped Cell/Restraint
         Authorization” attachment 1 of this SOP. Such
         documentation shall include steps taken to resolve
         the problem, the reasons for placement in a stripped
         cell and the degree to which the cell should be
         stripped.

      2. Any inmate/probationer assigned to a stripped cell
         must be observed by security staff, as a minimum, at
         least every 15 minutes unless otherwise specified.
         Such observation shall be documented, indicating the
         date, time, and behavior and shall be signed by the
         staff member making the observation. This
         documentation shall be on the standard isolation or
         segregation check sheet (Attachment 3 of SOP IIB09         0001, Administrative Segregation/Protective
         Custody). Observation of the inmate/probationer will
         continue until the inmate/probationer is released
         from the stripped cell.

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   3. Confinement to a stripped cell is intended only as a
      “cooling off” period and shall ordinarily be for no
      more than eight (8) hours. Continued confinement
      beyond the initial eight (8) hour period shall
      require the following:

      a. Written authorization by the senior medical
         employee present in the prison after at least
         telephonic approval by a physician or
         physician’s assistant.

      b. Written authorization for continued confinement
         in a striped cell shall be renewed daily by a
         physician or senior medical staff.

      c. In addition, continued confinement in a
         stripped cell shall also require the daily
         written authorization of the Warden or
         Superintendent or his or her designee.

   4. If confinement to the stripped cell is continued for
      72 hours, the senior medical employee will be
      required to provide a written report reflecting the
      inmate’s/probationer’s mental and physical
      stability. If, as result of the senior medical
      employee’s evaluation, it is determined that the
      inmate/probationer presents an MH/MR problem, he or
      she will be managed in accordance with SOPs VG67      0001, Time out, Seclusion, and Physical Restraints.
      The report will contain:

      a. Review of health record.

      b. Significant medical history.

      c. Current medication and vital signs.

      d. Current medical problems.

B. Mental Health Inmates/Probationers:

   1. Facilities/Centers with an MH/MR staff: The MH/MR team
      is responsible for evaluating the unauthorized
      actions of an inmate/probationer prior to or in

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      support of security intervention. Upon notification,
      MH/MR will make the determination if such activity
      is MH/MR precipitated. If this is the case, MH/MR
      will assume responsibility for managing the
      situation. In those cases where no such
      determination is made, MH/MR may advise security of
      options available (within the area of MH/MR’s
      expertise).

   2. Facilities/Centers without an MH/MR staff: The
      senior medical employee is responsible for
      evaluating the unauthorized actions of an
      inmate/probationer in support of security
      intervention. They will determine by telephonic
      contact with the nearest GDC facility/center which
      has an MH/MR staff, if such activity may be MH/MR
      precipitated, and if this is substantiated the
      inmate/probationer will be transferred to an
      appropriate facility/center for full MH/MR
      evaluation.

   3. If the inmate’s/probationer’s actions resulting in
      stripped cell placement are of an MH/MR nature, then
      proper procedures will be initiated in accordance
      with SOP VG67-0001, “Time Out, Seclusion and
      Physical Restraints”.

C. Temporary Confiscation of Personal Property: When any
   property is used in such a manner as to constitute an
   abuse of property, then that property, and any other
   property likely to be abused similarly may be removed at
   the discretion of the officer in charge. Consultation
   with medical and MH/MR staff shall be done when
   inmate/probationer is MH/MR, if MH/MR inmate/probationer
   consultation with MH/MR staff is appropriate.

   1. The officer removing the property will follow the
      process outlined in SOP IIB06-0002 for storing
      inmate/probationer property.

   2. At the end of the shift in which the property was
      taken a report shall be forwarded to the Warden or
      Superintendent indicating the property taken, the
      reasons therefore and the status of the property in

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`(209.05)`|

   question. If the property is kept over 72 hours the
   Warden or Superintendent shall make a further
   indication on this report the reasons for the
   continued holding of property.

3. Temporary confiscation of property under the terms
   of this paragraph shall not be construed as being
   the equivalent of the use of a stripped cell.