Detention Center: 500 Western Maryland Parkway, Hagerstown, MD 21740 | 240-313-2133
Policy and Procedures
NO: F-527
SUBJECT: INMATE SEXUAL CONTACT
EFFECTIVE DATE: 04-10-05
REVISED DATE: 03-01-13
1.0 POLICY
1.0.1 Sexual contact, or attempted sexual contact, between inmates or inmates and employees is prohibited.
1.0.2 Sexual contact can be verbal, visual, or physical contact of a sexual nature resulting from consent, coercion, physical force, the threat of physical force, or other means of exerting control over an inmate.
1.0.3 Sexual contact, or an attempt to engage in sexual contact, is a Prohibited Act as defined in Policy K-1000, “Inmate Disciplinary Procedures”, for which an inmate may be disciplined or prosecuted, and, a violation of Policies F-528 “Inmate Sexual Assault/Abuse/Misconduct Prevention” and F-529 “Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)” .
1.0.4 Inmates will receive awareness orientation through initial classification procedures concerning steps they may take to reduce the likelihood of being victimized by sexual predators and how to report a sexual contact or attempted sexual contact by another inmate or employee.
1.0.5 Employees and Volunteers will receive awareness training concerning: the prohibition on sexual contact with inmates; inmate on inmate sexual contact awareness; and, procedures for identifying, responding to, resolving, and reporting inmate sexual contact.
1.0.6 Sexual contact will be discouraged and prevented through inmate supervision and the practice of professional ethics by employees.
1.0.7 Statistical information on inmate sexual contacts will be maintained.
1.1 PROCEDURE
1.1.1 Orientation and Training
The facility shall train all employees who may have contact with inmates on:
(1) Its zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse and sexual harassment;
(2) How to fulfill their responsibilities under facility sexual abuse and sexual harassment
prevention, detection, reporting, and response policies and procedures;
(3) Inmates’ right to be free from sexual abuse and sexual harassment;
(4) The right of inmates and employees to be free from retaliation for reporting sexual
abuse and sexual harassment;
(5) The dynamics of sexual abuse and sexual harassment in confinement;
(6) The common reactions of sexual abuse and sexual harassment victims;
(7) How to detect and respond to signs of threatened and actual sexual abuse;
(8) How to avoid inappropriate relationships with inmates;
(9) How to communicate effectively and professionally with inmates, including lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, intersex, or gender nonconforming inmates; and
(10) How to comply with relevant laws related to mandatory reporting of sexual abuse to outside authorities.
All current employees who have not received such training shall be trained within one year of the effective date of the PREA standards, and the facility shall provide each employee with refresher training, at a minimum, every two years to ensure that all employees know the facility’s current sexual abuse and sexual harassment policies and procedures.
In years in which an employee does not receive refresher training, the facility shall provide refresher information on current sexual abuse and sexual harassment policies.
The facility shall document, through employee signature or electronic verification that employees understand the training they have received.
1.1.2 Volunteer and contractor training
The facility shall ensure and document that all volunteers and contractors who have contact with inmates have been trained on their responsibilities under the facility’s sexual abuse and sexual harassment prevention, detection, and response policies and procedures.
The level and type of training provided to volunteers and contractors shall be based on the services they provide and level of contact they have with inmates, but all volunteers and contractors who have contact with inmates shall be notified of the facility’s zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual abuse and sexual harassment and informed how to report such incidents.
1.1.3 Inmate education
During the intake process, (booking, classification and initial medical screening) inmates shall receive, and the facility shall document that the inmate has received, information explaining the facility’s zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual abuse and sexual harassment and how to report incidents or suspicions of sexual abuse or sexual harassment.
Within 30 days of intake, the facility shall provide comprehensive education to inmates either in person or through video regarding their rights to be free from sexual abuse and sexual harassment and to be free from retaliation for reporting such incidents, and regarding facility policies and procedures for responding to such incidents. Current inmates who have not received such education shall be educated within one year of the effective date of the PREA standards.
The facility shall provide inmate education in formats accessible to all inmates, including those who are limited English proficient, deaf, visually impaired, or otherwise disabled, as well as to inmates who have limited reading skills.
2.0 IDENTIFICATION AND PREVENTION
1.1.2.1 Inmates identified through the Intake, Classification and Medical intake Process as being at greater than average risk of victimization by a sexual predator will be classified to Protective Custody and placed in a segregation-capable housing unit, or, classified to General Population and assigned to a housing unit which affords direct supervision.
1.1.2.2 Inmates who are suspected or confirmed to have been victimized by a sexual predator within the facility will be separated from the suspected or confirmed predator by reassignment of housing. The victim will be classified to Protective Custody and segregated from the General population when deemed appropriate.
1.1.2.3 Inmates identified as sexual predators will be placed on an appropriate segregation status through disciplinary action, classification, or reclassification as may be appropriate.
1.1.2.4 Male and female inmates will not be housed together, placed into holding cells together, nor will they be permitted to participate in co-educational programs without direct supervision by staff. They will be separated by sight and sound whenever practical.
1.1.2.5 Deputies will not search inmates of the opposite sex except under emergency circumstances as stated in Policy E-408, “Searches”.
1.1.2.6 Male deputies will not enter the living quarters of female inmates without first being announced. A female staff member will be present when this occurs. (Emergencies excepted).
1.1.2.7 Male deputies will not conduct routine Security Rounds in the Female Housing Unit, although they may respond to emergencies.
1.1.2.8 Whenever practical, a female deputy will be assigned to conduct Security Rounds and Feeding in the Intake/Medical Area when female inmates are housed there. Cells housing female inmates will only be unlocked and entered by female deputies, or, by male deputies with a female staff member or second male staff member in attendance (emergencies excepted). Male deputies may conduct routine duties otherwise within other areas of the post.
1.1.2.9 A female Classification Counselor will classify female inmates when they are on duty. In the absence of female Classification Counselors, a male Classification Counselor will classify female inmates in the Booking Office with another deputy present.
1.1.2.10 Whenever practical, female inmates will be Booked by female Booking Deputies. In the event a female Booking Deputy is not on duty, a male Booking Deputy may Book the inmate with a second male present. If a female inmate is booked by a male Booking Deputy, that deputy will enter this information in the Keystone System under the “Narrative” section: the name of the deputy that Booked the inmate; the name of the second deputy present; the reason a female deputy was not present to Book the female inmate.
1.1.2.11 When female inmates are moving to and from programs, they will be escorted by a female deputy whenever practical. In the event a female deputy is not available, female inmates may be escorted by a male deputy with a second male deputy in attendance. Female inmates moving to and from the Medical Services Area for Sick Call, etc., will be escorted by a female deputy whenever practical. In cases where a female deputy is not available, the female inmates may be escorted by (2) male deputies. The female inmates will be moved to and from the area as a group whenever practical.
1.1.2.12 Male and female inmates will not attend Sick Calls or medical screenings together. A physician examining, treating, interviewing, or conducting therapy on an inmate of the opposite sex will have a nurse or other staff member of the same sex as the inmate in attendance. In cases where privacy and confidentiality must be considered, a staff member who is the same sex as the inmate will be posted in the immediate vicinity.
1.1.2.13 Mental Health Case Workers will interview/counsel female inmates in the Library of the Female Housing Unit. The deputy posted to the control center will visually monitor interactions between the Mental Health Case Worker and female inmate being interviewed/counseled.
1.1.2.14 When conducting business which normally requires some degree of privacy and confidentiality, staff, Volunteers, and Professional Visitors will use facility accommodations such as Interview Rooms, libraries (not Law Library), and other areas where there is a substantial view of the parties inside and accessibility by other staff members.
1.1.2.15.1 Female inmates and female civilian staff, female Volunteers and female Professional Visitors will not be permitted to be secluded from the sight when in the company of male inmates.
1.1.2.15.2 Female deputies who are required to perform duties where they may be out of sight in the presence of male inmates will notify the deputy or supervisor at the nearest post of their location and type of duty being performed. Periodic radio Contact will be maintained until the female duty leaves the post area.
1.1.2.16 Male and female inmates will be physically separated during transports. Whenever females are transported outside the facility, the transporting deputy will transmit the v ehicle’s starting mileage and mileage upon arrival at the particular destination.
1.1.2.17 Employees and Volunteers will neither initiate nor engage in conversation with inmates where the speech is sexual in nature.
1.1.2.18 Employees and Volunteers will not correspond with inmates except to discharge their duties. No correspondence of a sexual nature will be promoted or conveyed between employees, Volunteers, and inmates.
3.0 RESPONSE AND INTERVENTION
1.1.3.1 Inmate complaints of sexual contact will be investigated immediately as such becomes known. Complaints of contact such as sexual assault and rape will be turned over to the Patrol Division for investigation and criminal prosecution. The scene of the assault/rape will be secured and evidence preserved pending the arrival of an investigator.
1.1.3.2 An inmate claiming to be the victim of sexual contact by another inmate will be separated from the alleged perpetrator by housing assignment and placed on Protective Custody if the need to do so is determined. The names of the victim and perpetrator will be entered on the “Seg. Alert form” as “enemies” and they will be prevented from having further contact. The alleged perpetrator may also be placed on an appropriate Special Confinement Status to include a disciplinary status if there is some evidence to substantiate the inmate committed the Prohibited Act.
1.1.3.3 Inmates who claim to have been sexually assaulted or raped will be referred to the Medical Services contractor and afforded prompt medical attention to include an examination by a physician and appropriate follow- up treatment and counseling as deemed necessary.
1.1.3.4 Complete and detailed reports will be prepared by those employees having knowledge of the incident.
1.1.3.5 Allegations of employee or Volunteer sexual contact with an inmate will be investigated immediately as such become known. Inmate complaints alleging sexual contact by an employee or Volunteer will be forwarded to the Captain of Operations who will arrange for the incident to be investigated. Employees may be immediately relieved of duty by the Shift Commander or an Administrator if such is deemed necessary. An employee may be suspended pending the outcome on an investigation into an allegation of sexual contact and subjected to internal disciplinary procedures and criminal prosecution.
4.0 STATISTICS
The facility will maintain statistical information concerning incidents of sexual contact in the case of a sexual assault or rape. Statistics on both inmate on inmate and employee on inmate contact will be kept and maintained in the facility’s computerized Detention Management System.
Detention Center Contacts:
- Detention Center Assistance – 240-313-2133
- Records – 240-313-2125
- Booking Intake – 240-313-2137
- Inmate Programs – 240-313-2148
- Inmate Services/Property – 240-313-2872
- Training/Recruitment – 240-313-2124
- Shift Commander – 240-313-2136
- Medical – 240-313-2156
- Substance Abuse Program – 240-313-2161