CH 09 Leisure Activities (Policy.Corrections.CH 09 Leisure Activities.WebHome)

11. Permitted leisure activities shall be regulated by the inmate's classification assignment and housing location (reference policy CG 04 Orientation and Rules).

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11. Leisure activities should be controlled and supervised by jail staff.

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11. Volunteers and contract providers may be used to assist with leisure activities. Their authorized services shall be identified, their roles clearly defined, and their schedules shall be managed by the Programming Unit. The use of volunteers or contract providers should not degrade facility security or safety.

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11. Inmates should be provided leisure activities including, but not limited to:

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111. Library services;

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111. Card and/or board games;

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111. Television and/or radio;

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111. Social interaction with other inmates.

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11. Opportunities for leisure activities outside an inmate's housing section should be documented in the jail computer system.

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1. Rationale:

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11. Jail officials should provide leisure time activities to reduce inmates' idle time and help ensure order and discipline in the facility.

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11. 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 operational interests.

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11. Volunteers or contract providers may have knowledge, skills, or experience related to leisure activities that jail staff do not possess.

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**CH 09_104 __LIBRARY SERVICES__**

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1. Policy:

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11. Library services should be provided at least twice each week.

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1. Rationale:

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11. Library services should be provided frequently to reduce the number of books which an inmate must store in his cell or other living area.

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**CH 09_105 __EXERCISE__**

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1. Policy:

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11. Inmates may be permitted daily exercise, but should receive no less than four exercise opportunities per week. Inmates who are in the jail seven consecutive days should be provided an opportunity to exercise. There should be adequate staff to ensure that inmates consistently receive the opportunity to exercise.

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11. Inmates should be provided exercise opportunities of one hour in duration.

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11. Inmates shall be permitted to decline to participate in exercise activities.

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11. When feasible, exercise opportunities should be provided in an area constructed and equipped for that function.

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11. The areas provided for inmate exercise should be sufficient to permit inmates to vigorously exercise their cardiovascular systems and large muscle groups. However, no specific area-per-inmate ratio is required. Inmates may exercise daily by utilizing day rooms or their individual cells.

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11. Exercising in a housing unit should not be permitted to disturb other inmates and should not involve fixtures, objects, or other inmates. Approved housing unit exercises include: walking, push-ups, sit-ups, and jogging in place. Fight training or defensive tactics exercises are not allowed.

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1. Rationale:

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11. Courts have held that lack of exercise may become a constitutional issue if the deprivation of exercise is sufficiently serious that it adversely affects an inmate's health.

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11. Incarceration for less than seven days without exercise is not sufficient to harm inmates, and should not result in the "serious harm" which violates the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

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11. Achieving the minimum levels of exercise is more important than where that exercise takes place. It is the effect on the inmate rather than an arbitrary concept of where the recreation is to be held which matters most.

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**CH 09_106 __OUTDOOR RECREATION__**

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1. Policy:

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11. Recreation activities outside housing units should be available to inmates (including special needs inmates) for at least one hour, five days a week (including sedentary and exercise opportunities).

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11. A “Recreation Specialist” should be appointed to manage the jail's outdoor recreation yards and activities. The Recreation Specialists should:

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111. Through regular inspection and maintenance, ensure that recreational facilities and equipment are in good condition;

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111. Supervise recreation inmate workers; and

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111. Oversee recreation programs and activities for special housing units and special needs inmates.

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11. Outdoor recreation should be permitted but may be restricted or regulated. Outdoor recreation may be restricted or denied:

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111. During inclement weather;

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111. For those inmates who present too great an escape and/or danger risk (Lockdown and Level-1 inmates shall not be permitted outdoor recreation); or

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111. When situations or conditions exist which would jeopardize the security, safety, or other legitimate interests of the facility.

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11. Contact sports shall not be permitted.

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11. Jail staff should conduct searches of recreation areas before and after use.

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11. Recreation areas should remain under constant jail staff supervision. Supervising staff should be equipped with two-way radios.

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11. Jail staff should check recreation equipment for damage when equipment is returned. Discovered damage should be reported to the Recreation Specialist.

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11. Revocation of recreation privileges should be documented in the jail computer system and the inmate should receive an explanation (reference policy: [[CG 07 Punitive Discipline>>doc:Policy.Corrections.CG 07 Punitive Discipline.WebHome]]).

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1. Rationale:

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11. Inclement weather may make outdoor recreation impractical.

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11. Access to the recreation yard for high-risk inmates may present an unreasonably high risk of escape or danger.

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**CH 09_107 __TELEVISION USE__**

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