Inmate Safety and Inmate Safety and SecuritySecurity

By SP George OukoBy SP George Ouko

Structure of Structure of PresentationPresentation

Inmate safety and securityInmate safety and security Inmate countInmate count Conduct of searchesConduct of searches VideosVideos Group exercisesGroup exercises ConclusionConclusion

Inmate safety and Inmate safety and securitysecurity Security of prison facilities has evolved Security of prison facilities has evolved

in the recent past to include the in the recent past to include the dynamic nature as well as static in dynamic nature as well as static in addition to the use of technology to addition to the use of technology to secure places of detention and secure places of detention and incarceration; incarceration;

Dynamic security involves innovative Dynamic security involves innovative approaches in security including the use approaches in security including the use of technology as control mechanisms to of technology as control mechanisms to deter security breaches in prison deter security breaches in prison facilitiesfacilities

Cont Cont

In the contemporary security In the contemporary security systems, static security systems, static security complements the dynamic security in complements the dynamic security in order to institute effective security order to institute effective security measures within an organization(s);measures within an organization(s);

There is need to upscale the security There is need to upscale the security systems -installing CCTVsystems -installing CCTV

Separate confinement of Separate confinement of classes of prisoners-classes of prisoners-

   Held for trial or examinationHeld for trial or examination Serving sentencesServing sentences Civil prisoners and witnessesCivil prisoners and witnesses Further separation by gender and Further separation by gender and

age (16 – 20, 21 and over)age (16 – 20, 21 and over) Children under 16 not permitted to Children under 16 not permitted to

be confined in a jailbe confined in a jail

Facility requirementsFacility requirements A steel door, grilled or plate with grilled A steel door, grilled or plate with grilled

observation opening at the main entranceobservation opening at the main entrance All windows covered with a stout screen of All windows covered with a stout screen of

½” mesh to prevent passing of contraband½” mesh to prevent passing of contraband Wire coat hangers not permitted in cellsWire coat hangers not permitted in cells Exterior well lighted at nightExterior well lighted at night Windows glazed with translucent glassWindows glazed with translucent glass Paint not used on windowsPaint not used on windows

Gate keepingGate keeping

This involves controlled movement This involves controlled movement and maintaining prison security and maintaining prison security

by providing guide lines and by providing guide lines and procedures for the operation of the procedures for the operation of the main gate. main gate.

AdministrationAdministration

Money, watches, and other valuables Money, watches, and other valuables taken from prisoners kept in the taken from prisoners kept in the office safeoffice safe

Thorough search of prisonersThorough search of prisoners Careful sensor of all incoming and Careful sensor of all incoming and

outgoing mailoutgoing mail Prisoners should not have access to Prisoners should not have access to

windowswindows

Cont Cont

Key to the main entrance should not be Key to the main entrance should not be taken insidetaken inside

Firearms not permitted insideFirearms not permitted inside All kitchen utensils left in the mess hall All kitchen utensils left in the mess hall

or returned from cellsor returned from cells Frequent inspections of locking devicesFrequent inspections of locking devices Frequent searches of cellsFrequent searches of cells All doors kept lockedAll doors kept locked

“ “Do not place too much reliance on Do not place too much reliance on bolts and bars. A jail is no stronger bolts and bars. A jail is no stronger than the human element in charge”than the human element in charge”

Inmates CountsInmates Counts A count is a physical acknowledgement A count is a physical acknowledgement

of the number of inmates in certain of the number of inmates in certain locations. locations.

Conducting accurate counts is one of Conducting accurate counts is one of your routine duties and essential to your routine duties and essential to maintaining an effective security maintaining an effective security program. program.

Because the count is so significant, all Because the count is so significant, all other activities stop while it is being other activities stop while it is being conducted.conducted.

Types of CountsTypes of Counts

Formal CountFormal Count Regular, required count of all inmates Regular, required count of all inmates

in the institution. in the institution.

It is normally done during unlock, It is normally done during unlock, midday, final count (Lock down). midday, final count (Lock down).

In some maximum security facilities, In some maximum security facilities,

counts may occur as often as every counts may occur as often as every two hours. two hours.

Census CountCensus Count

Frequent but irregular check to verify Frequent but irregular check to verify that all inmates under the that all inmates under the supervision of an officer are present. supervision of an officer are present.

This count is often done on work This count is often done on work details or programs-e.g. workshopsdetails or programs-e.g. workshops

Emergency CountEmergency Count

Taken due to unusual circumstances Taken due to unusual circumstances such as escapes, such as escapes,

riots, or riots, or

disturbances.disturbances.

Counting ProceduresCounting Procedures

How you conduct a count is crucial to How you conduct a count is crucial to the security of your institution and its the security of your institution and its employees. employees.

Too many assaults and escapes have Too many assaults and escapes have occurred because officers did not occurred because officers did not count according to established rules.count according to established rules.

Fundamental rules of Fundamental rules of CountingCounting

Make sure that you see each inmate you Make sure that you see each inmate you count.count.

This means that you must see skin – a This means that you must see skin – a breathing body – not merely a mound on breathing body – not merely a mound on the bed. the bed.

In keeping with this principle, do not rely In keeping with this principle, do not rely on a roll call, or base your count on the on a roll call, or base your count on the number of meals eaten.number of meals eaten.

Never allow inmates to conduct a Never allow inmates to conduct a count for you, or to help you in any count for you, or to help you in any way during the countway during the count..

A count is a security tool and should A count is a security tool and should be treated as such. be treated as such.

In fact, inmates should never be In fact, inmates should never be involved in procedures that affect the involved in procedures that affect the security of the institution.security of the institution.

Do not allow any inmate movement or Do not allow any inmate movement or other interruptions during the count.other interruptions during the count.

Inmate movements or outside Inmate movements or outside interruptions can easily distract you interruptions can easily distract you while you are conducting a count, while you are conducting a count, thereby decreasing the count’s thereby decreasing the count’s reliability. reliability.

If an inmate moves or if you become If an inmate moves or if you become confused during a count, stop and confused during a count, stop and begin the count again. Do not begin the count again. Do not attempt to continue the count where attempt to continue the count where you left off.you left off.

Why conduct Security Why conduct Security

searches?searches?

The safety of both prisoners and staff The safety of both prisoners and staff largely depends on the thoroughnesslargely depends on the thoroughness

of the searches carried out in the prison. of the searches carried out in the prison.

Control is accomplished through searches Control is accomplished through searches carried out on inmates, members of staff, carried out on inmates, members of staff, visitors, and visitors, and

Vehicles entering or leaving the prison, Vehicles entering or leaving the prison, cells, dormitories and the entire prison cells, dormitories and the entire prison compound.compound.

Security searchesSecurity searches

Involves checking, finding and Involves checking, finding and confiscating contrabands items that confiscating contrabands items that may jeopardize the security of the may jeopardize the security of the prisons.prisons.

Include weapons, drugs all Include weapons, drugs all unauthorized items.unauthorized items.

Types of Security searchesTypes of Security searches

Cont Cont

Rub down searches,Rub down searches,

Strip down searches,Strip down searches,

Security searches,Security searches,

Surprise searches.Surprise searches.

Rub-down searchRub-down search The rub- down search is also known as the The rub- down search is also known as the

tap/pat down search. It involves the tap/pat down search. It involves the patting over the clothed parts of the patting over the clothed parts of the prisoner. The search is conducted during;prisoner. The search is conducted during;

Admission into the prisonAdmission into the prison Whenever prisoner are leaving for laborWhenever prisoner are leaving for labor While entering the accommodation facilityWhile entering the accommodation facility On return from courts, visits, hospitals On return from courts, visits, hospitals

Strip-down searchStrip-down search::   Every prisoner on intake must undergo a Every prisoner on intake must undergo a

strip-down search. strip-down search.

The search involves a complete inspection The search involves a complete inspection of all items of clothing and external body of all items of clothing and external body parts. parts.

Examination of internal body cavities Examination of internal body cavities should only be conducted by medical should only be conducted by medical personnelpersonnel

Surprise searchSurprise search Also known as the special search. When Also known as the special search. When

an officer has reason to suspect that a an officer has reason to suspect that a prisoner prisoner

has prohibited articles concealed on his has prohibited articles concealed on his person, or in his/her accommodation, person, or in his/her accommodation,

he may carry out a surprise/special he may carry out a surprise/special search on the spot. search on the spot.

Routine Workshop Routine Workshop search;search;

   Searches within the workshops should Searches within the workshops should be conducted daily. be conducted daily.

During such searches all prisoners will During such searches all prisoners will be removed from the workshops. be removed from the workshops.

The search party should look out for The search party should look out for hidden contrabands, damaged hidden contrabands, damaged equipments within the workshop.equipments within the workshop.

Security search/checkSecurity search/check

Security checks ensure safety and Security checks ensure safety and security of the institution are security of the institution are maintained at a much higher level. maintained at a much higher level.

It also determines whether all It also determines whether all security devices and equipments are security devices and equipments are in order. A security check involves in order. A security check involves checking on the following;checking on the following;

Locks and doorsLocks and doors

when checking on locks and doors, you when checking on locks and doors, you should;should;

Pull on the door handle to ensure they Pull on the door handle to ensure they are locked and secure.are locked and secure.

Look for possible obstructions in locks Look for possible obstructions in locks and ensure they are operational.and ensure they are operational.

Bars and grillsBars and grills always inspect by;always inspect by; Pulling on them and making a visual check Pulling on them and making a visual check

to ensure they are secure.to ensure they are secure. Pull on barred gates and doors to establish Pull on barred gates and doors to establish

that they are locked and secure.that they are locked and secure. Pull and push on locked cell doors to Pull and push on locked cell doors to

ensure they are secure.ensure they are secure. On highly raised grills use a metal bar to On highly raised grills use a metal bar to

run over so as to ascertain that they are run over so as to ascertain that they are secure.secure.

Windows and screensWindows and screens alwaysalways check on; check on;

The glass panes, The glass panes,

screens, frames, screens, frames,

surrounding wall and surrounding wall and

floor area for any damage or tampering.floor area for any damage or tampering.

  

Electrical outlet and Electrical outlet and fixturesfixtures

Check to see if the covers have been Check to see if the covers have been removed for the purpose of removed for the purpose of concealing contrabands. concealing contrabands.

Tampering with electrical fixtures Tampering with electrical fixtures can create fire hazardscan create fire hazards

Wash rooms;Wash rooms;   Check all staff and prisoners washrooms, Check all staff and prisoners washrooms,

including including sinks,sinks, cupboards, cupboards, urinals, urinals, Toilets, Toilets, showers. showers. Floors and Floors and ceiling areas for damage and tampering.ceiling areas for damage and tampering.

Supply, storage and Supply, storage and cleaning rooms cleaning rooms

check out for;check out for;Broken brooms,Broken brooms, mops, ropes, mops, ropes, torn sheets or blanketstorn sheets or blanketsAll containersAll containersGarbage, cans, boxes etc.Garbage, cans, boxes etc.

Miscellaneous areas and Miscellaneous areas and equipmentequipment;;

check on the following;check on the following;

fire equipment,fire equipment,

tables chairs, Ladders, tables chairs, Ladders,

anything that can be used to step on anything that can be used to step on should never be left unattended.should never be left unattended.

Procedures for Procedures for conducting searchesconducting searches

Should be done with dignity and Should be done with dignity and respect for the in mates and staff respect for the in mates and staff rights in mindrights in mind

The inmates and the staff should be The inmates and the staff should be informed about being searchedinformed about being searched

Where necessary hygiene practices Where necessary hygiene practices should be observedshould be observed

Searches should not be degrading the Searches should not be degrading the inmatesinmates

Searching EquipmentsSearching Equipments The use of searching equipments is The use of searching equipments is

important for conducting searches as it important for conducting searches as it helps in making the searches more helps in making the searches more thorough. thorough.

In recent times various products of space In recent times various products of space age technology are being employed in the age technology are being employed in the search procedures.search procedures.

The most common ones used may include;The most common ones used may include;

Cont Cont

TV MonitorsTV Monitors

GlovesGloves

Metal detectors-walk through orMetal detectors-walk through or

Hand heldHand held

ContrabandsContrabands   Contrabands may be defined as any Contrabands may be defined as any

items possessed by an inmate, staff items possessed by an inmate, staff or visitor which are prohibited or visitor which are prohibited articles by the rules and regulation of articles by the rules and regulation of that particular institution. that particular institution.

They must be clearly defined as such They must be clearly defined as such and be brought to the notice of all. and be brought to the notice of all. Contrabands may in most cases Contrabands may in most cases include;include;

ExamplesExamples

Weapons which may include guns, Weapons which may include guns, knives, shape items etc.knives, shape items etc.

Any item not issued by, or under the Any item not issued by, or under the direct supervision of a staff member direct supervision of a staff member or permitted to be kept by a prisoneror permitted to be kept by a prisoner

Cash above the prescribed amountCash above the prescribed amount Items that may be used to assist in Items that may be used to assist in

or effect an escapeor effect an escape

Cont Cont Any unauthorized toolsAny unauthorized tools Intoxicating drugsIntoxicating drugs Cigarettes (in certain institutions)Cigarettes (in certain institutions) MoneyMoney AlcoholAlcohol Any other items that may be Any other items that may be

described as prohibited articles in described as prohibited articles in the institution.the institution.

Entry Points:Entry Points:   Contrabands somehow find their way Contrabands somehow find their way

into the prison. into the prison.

The entry points are the most The entry points are the most important to know so that you may important to know so that you may be able to seal the same. be able to seal the same.

These may include the followingThese may include the following

Through the normal visits to prisoner by friends and Through the normal visits to prisoner by friends and relatives.relatives.

Through the mail.Through the mail. Over/under/or through the fence or walls of the prison.Over/under/or through the fence or walls of the prison. Staff may also bring in the same.Staff may also bring in the same. As a result of improperly conducted searches.As a result of improperly conducted searches. The prisoner if not properly supervised are known to The prisoner if not properly supervised are known to

plant certain drugs e.g. marijuana.plant certain drugs e.g. marijuana. Prisoners working in the workshops may also steal Prisoners working in the workshops may also steal

intoxicating items such as glue.intoxicating items such as glue.

  

  

  

Questions.Questions.