Skip to Content

AB 17 Public Volunteers and Contract Staff

Version 1.2 by Ryan Larkin on 2016/08/16 17:34

Washington County Sheriff's Office

Corrections Division

Policy Manual

Volume: AB (CH)

Services and Programs

Chapter: 17 (11)

Public Volunteers and Contract Staff

Replaces and/or Supersedes:

None

Published:       01/23/2011

Review Date:   01/23/2012

Sheriff Cory C. Pulsipher
Undersheriff Bart G. Bailey

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CH 11_101  Definitions

CH 11_102  References

CH 11_103  General

CH 11_104  Access, Supervision, and Restrictions

CH 11_105  Rules and Orientation

CH 11_106  Compensation

CH 11_101 DEFINITIONS

  1. WCSO: Washington County Sheriff's Office
  2. PCF:  Purgatory Correctional Facility

CH 11_102 REFERENCES

  1. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Standards: 2000-13.
  2. Utah Sheriffs' Association Jail Standards:
    1. J01.04.02: Volunteers and Contract Providers
    2. J02.03.04: Utilizing Community Resources
    3. J03.03.01: Staffing
    4. J03.03.03: Utilizing Community Resources
    5. J04.03.01: Staffing
    6. J04.03.03: Utilizing Community Resources
    7. J07.01.01: Written Volunteer Policies and Procedures Required
    8. J07.01.02: Content
    9. J07.02.01: Utilizing Community Resources
    10. J07.02.02: Purpose and Role
    11. J07.02.03: Working Arrangement
    12. J07.03.01: Qualifications and Screening
    13. J07.03.02: Rules and Orientation
    14. J07.03.03: Restrictions

CH 11_103 GENERAL

  1. Policy:
    1. Volunteers and contract providers may be used to assist in providing services and programs for inmates. However, all outside staff shall work within the security, safety, operational, and policy requirements of the jail command.
    2. The Corrections Chief Deputy, or designee, should:
      1. Evaluate the need for volunteers, contract staff, and community-based programs;
      2. Inventory available community resources; and
      3. Obtain the needed services, programs, volunteers, and/or contract staff.
    3. Services and programs should include, but not be limited to:
      1. Mental health services;
      2. Medical services;
      3. Religious services;
      4. Legal assistance;
      5. Library services;
      6. Tutors;
      7. Recreation programs;
      8. Exercise programs; and
      9. Treatment programs.
  2. Rationale:
    1. All activities in the jail must be directed and controlled by jail staff to ensure that jail regulations and policy requirements are enforced, and to protect the jail's legitimate interests.
    2. Unless sufficient staff time is available to facilitate inmate services and programs, opportunities may not be adequately provided (some may be required by law) and/or legitimate interests may be jeopardized.
    3. Jail officials should consider the use of volunteers, student interns, clergy, community-based programs, and other community resources to:
      1. Provide otherwise unavailable services and programs; and
      2. Reduce operating costs for the jail.

CH 11_104 ACCESS, SUPERVISION, AND RESTRICTIONS

  1. Policy:
    1. In accordance with Washington County policy (F): “Before a volunteer can donate service to the County, the volunteer and the service must be approved by both the Commission, (or a Commission Representative) and Human Resources.”
    2. Volunteers and contract staff shall receive approval from the Sheriff, or designee, prior to being permitted to work in the jail.
    3. Volunteers and contract staff shall be carefully supervised and controlled by those responsible for the operation and management of the jail.
    4. The movement, access, and actions of volunteers and contract staff shall be restricted to that minimum level necessary to carry out authorized functions.
    5. Jail officials should establish qualifications for volunteers and contract staff and should screen candidates before they can be permitted to work in the jail. As a part of the minimum qualifications, persons should ordinarily be rejected if:
      1. They have a felony record;
      2. A relative or close friend is incarcerated in the jail;
      3. There is reason to believe that the candidate would:
        1. Not obey the policy and rule requirements of the jail;
        2. Be vulnerable to intimidation or manipulation; or
        3. For philosophical, moral, or other reasons have difficulty strictly supporting and following security requirements; or
      4. Other justifications which may exist related to the legitimate interests of the jail operation.
    6. Visitors, relatives, or friends of current PCF inmates are not allowed to serve as volunteers.
    7. Volunteers shall sign a waiver of liability before entering a secure portion of the facility where inmates are present.
  2. Rationale:
    1. Access to, and management of, the jail is within the statutory authority of the Sheriff.
    2. The services rendered by volunteers and contract staff are potentially of substantial benefit to the jail operation. There are, however, potential difficulties associated with allowing persons other than staff to work inside the jail. Volunteers and contract staff:
      1. May not have had the benefit of corrections pre-service or in-service training;
      2. May see the jail operation through the narrow view of their own mission in the jail, often viewing necessary jail safety and security regulations as unreasonable impediments to service delivery and unfair restrictions of the human rights of inmates;
      3. Are vulnerable to being manipulated by inmates, even to the extent of violating rules and policy requirements; and
      4. may engage in actions which they deem of minor consequence, but which will have a substantially adverse affect on safety, security, or other legitimate facility interests.
    3. Careful supervision and control of volunteers and contract staff can greatly minimize the potential problems associated with their involvement in the facility. Providers who cannot support and adhere to rules become a liability to the security and safety of the facility.

CH 11_105 RULES AND ORIENTATION

  1. Policy:
    1. PCF should provide rules, regulations, and orientation training for volunteers and contract staff prior to allowing them to function in the jail.
    2. Rules and regulations should include strict requirements concerning disclosure of information learned as a result of working in the jail.
  2. Rationale:
    1. Volunteers and contract staff, no matter how well motivated and diligent, will not be able to avoid violating rules and policy requirements unless they have fair notice of those requirements.
    2. Unauthorized disclosure or discussion of information obtained from jail records or as a result of observations and discussions may:
      1. Violate GRAMA provisions or other state or federal law requirements;
      2. Undermine jail safety or security;
      3. Violate protected privacy interests;
      4. Undermine community confidence in the jail operation;
      5. Have a disruptive effect on the jail operation; and
      6. Result in spreading inaccurate or misleading information based on the limited knowledge and experience of the person communicating the information.

CH 11_106 COMPENSATION

  1. Policy:
    1. Volunteers shall not be financially compensated.
    2. Contract staff shall be compensated as specifically detailed by their contract with the jail.
  2. Rationale:
  3. Compensation should be regulated by the terms of a contract in order to avoid confusion and/or liability.