3.15 Safety Checks Pursuant to Section 1328

Chapter 3
Section 3.15
Subject 3.15 Safety Checks Pursuant to Section 1328
Effective Date 5/19/2023 12:00 AM
  1. Staff shall conduct direct visual observation of each youth when in a sleeping room, holding room, and alone in a visiting room without the presence of facility or probation staff.  Safety checks shall be at random or varied intervals and a minimum of every 15 minutes or less. Staff will visually observe each youth when in the shower every (5) minutes or less.
  2. Staff shall perform and complete safety checks by positioning themselves in a manner which allows direct visual observation of the youth to establish the youth is safe and secure in the designated room.
  3. All safety checks shall be documented with the actual time the check is completed. The Guard 1/Pipe system shall be utilized to document all direct visual safety checks which shall include: officer, location, time, and youth in or out of room.
  4. Guard Procedure
    1. Staff shall utilize the hand-held Guard device, identification (ID) fob and “in and out” fob, which is a part of the Guard system.
    2.  The Guard device will remain in its protective pouch secured in the sharps drawer on the unit when not in use.
    3. The Guard device will be placed on the downloader only when transferring data from the pipe to the “Rounds Tracker” data base.
    4. The Guard device shall be placed in the downloader prior to each facility shift change or every eight (8) hours to update the “Rounds Tracker” database. 
    5. Each sworn staff shall first sync the Guard to their assigned individual ID button (fob) located on his/her key ring.  Syncing the Guard device to an individual ID button will allow the Guard to record the safety checks conducted by that individual officer, documenting that that officer has conducted room checks at a particular location and time on their respective unit.  The Guard shall remain assigned to that officer until such time as it is placed in the downloader and cleared or transferred to another officer while the preceding officer observes the subsequent sync to the new officer’s ID button (fob).  When transferring a Guard to another officer, the transferring officer shall observe the new officer sync his/her ID button (fob) to the Guard.
    6. At each room, the officer will press the Guard against the stainless steel mount located on each door until the Guard beeps and flashes indicating a good read. The officer will position themselves to where they are able to visually observe the status of the youth. The officer must take sufficient time to observe some body part and a portion of skin and that the youth is breathing and not engaged in any dangerous activity before completing the observation.  The Officer will then record the appropriate observation on the “in or out” fob to record the observed presence of the youth(s) inside the room.
    7. In the event of a malfunction of the Guard system, the officer that has conducted the safety checks will record the safety checks on a Unit Room Check form along with his/her name, the actual time the safety checks were completed and the status of the youth at that time.
  5. Guard Review Procedures
    1. Each JSO III will be responsible for monitoring and reviewing the “Rounds Tracker”.  Prior to accessing the “Rounds Tracker”, the JSO III     shall   ensure each Guard device in use in the facility has been recently synced with the Direct Downloader so that “Rounds Tracker” software is up to date upon review.  
    2. The JSO III will review “Rounds Tracker” data for the specified period of their shift to determine if there were any missed, late or undocumented/improperly documented checks.  
    3. Upon discovery of missed, late, undocumented/improperly documented check the JSO III will:
      1. Determine the responsible Officer for the missed, late, undocumented/improperly documented check;
      2. Review the incident with the Officer; 
      3. Send an email to PR_JUV_HALL_SDPO with the date, time, location, and extent of the missed, late, undocumented/improperly documented check from the “Rounds Tracker” with the context/officer explanation of the missed, late, undocumented/improperly documented check.
    4. Upon receipt of the email from the JSO III a SDPO will: 
      1. Review the date, time, location in the “Rounds Tracker” software.
      2. Review surveillance video from the date, time, location to confirm the late, missed, undocumented/improperly documented check and responsible officer
      3. Send an email to the responsible Officer regarding the date, time, location and extent noticing them of the confirmed late, missed, undocumented/improperly documented check.