CH 13 Personal Hygiene

Washington County Sheriff's Office

CORRECTIONS DIVISION

Policy Manual

Volume: CH

Services and Programs

Chapter: 13

Personal Hygiene

Replaces and/or Supersedes:

None

Published:

01/23/2012

Review Date:

02/16/2022

Sheriff Nate Brooksby

Chief Deputy Trevor Benson

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CH 13_101  Definitions

CH 13_102  References

CH 13_103  General

CH 13_104  Showers

CH 13_105  Delousing

CH 13_106  Hair Care

CH 13_101  DEFINITIONS

WCSO:  Washington County Sheriff's Office

PCF:  Purgatory Correctional Facility

General Housing:  Housing areas for the general inmate population, after classification assignment. Does not include holding or intake cells or sections.

Indigent:  Having a zero, or below zero, inmate account balance for more than fourteen consecutive days.

CH 13_102  REFERENCES

None

CH 13_103  GENERAL

1. Policy:
   1. If an inmate cannot secure release and must be moved to general housing, upon being moved to general housing, the inmate should be required:
      1. To shower (soap and shampoo shall be supplied at no cost to the inmate);
      2. Exchange personal clothing for jail clothing (reference policy: CH 07 Laundry); and
      3. If there is an indication of vermin, to undergo delousing.
   2. Inmates should be encouraged to maintain sound hygiene practices.
   3. At no cost to the inmate, a basic hygiene packet (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, & comb) will be given to each inmate during the admissions process. Upon request, sanitary napkins or tampons shall be available for women inmates, at no cost to inmates. Additional items may be ordered through Commissary; in accordance with the Personal Property Matrix (reference policy CG 04 Orientation and Rules).
   4. Toilet paper shall be provided at each toilet location.
2. Rationale:
   1. Shower and clothing exchange are important procedures to aid in the process of maintaining sanitation and cleanliness in the jail.
   2. Many inmates who are booked into jail have poor hygiene habits. While one trip to jail is not likely to change that, the jail stay can be a learning experience.
   3. Basic hygiene items are necessary for meeting personal hygiene needs.

CH 13_104  SHOWERS

1. Policy:
   1. Inmates in general housing should have the opportunity to shower at least three times per week.
   2. Inmates in segregation should be permitted to shower at least three times per week, except for inmates whose movement would result in an inordinate risk to staff or others.
2. Rationale:
   1. The courts are not in agreement over the number of showers required per week for inmates.
   2. Daily showers may be more of a cultural preference than a hygienic or constitutional requirement. Less than three opportunities per week for inmates to shower would certainly not result in the "serious" harm required to meet the objective test for an Eighth Amendment cause of action.

CH 13_105  DELOUSING

1. Policy:
   1. Inmates found with an infestation of lice or other vermin shall be temporarily quarantined. The inmate and the quarantine area shall be deloused.
   2. Delousing shall be conducted by a Medical Branch employee trained on the proper and safe use of the delousing agents.
2. Rationale:
   1. Measures must be taken to ensure that body lice or other vermin is not introduced into the facility. Showers alone are not adequate to control infestation. Delousing agents are necessary to ensure that the infestation is eradicated and does not spread to other inmates, staff, or the facility itself.

CH 13_106  HAIR CARE

1. Policy:
   1. Hair length and beards will not be restricted as long as they do not create a health or hygiene problem (reference policy: CH 01 Access to Religion).
   2. Unless prohibited by a court from shaving or cutting hair to facilitate court room identification, or a documented safety concern, inmates should be permitted to:
      1. Shave at least two times per week; and
      2. Receive a haircut at least once every six weeks.
   3. Razors will be distributed on Wednesday and Sunday evenings (only Sunday evenings for inmates housed in Community Corrections).
   4. Razors will be distributed only after the evening meal trays have been collected. 
   5. Inmates housed in cells will be given 30 minutes to use the razor. Inmates housed in dorms will be given 90 minutes to use the razor.
   6. Inmates housed in cells will remain locked in their cells while using the razor.
   7. Razors must be returned at the end of the razor use time period. Alterations to a razor or failure to return a razor should result in a “possession of a weapon” charge against the inmate.
   8. Upon specific request from an inmate, an inmate may be granted the opportunity to shave prior to attending court.
   9. Licensed, local area barbers will be available for haircut services. The cost of the haircut ($10.00) will be deducted from the inmate's cash account. Indigent inmates may receive haircuts but will still be charged, placing their account into a negative balance. Inmates may be eligible for haircuts after thirty days of consecutive incarceration, and every two months thereafter. State inmate haircut costs are included in the contract rate. Brushes shall not be used during hair care services. Neck barriers shall be used during hair care services. ICE inmates may receive a haircut at ICE's expense once a month. Haircare services will be scheduled by the Programming Unit.
2. Rationale:
   1. Specific hair grooming practices may be accepted religious practices that are protected by law.
   2. Shaving and haircuts may be necessary for inmates to comply with grooming and hygiene requirements.
   3. Inmates not housed in cells typically have to share sinks and mirrors with more inmates than those housed in cells.
   4. Brushes are more difficult to clean and are a greater risk for passing germs or vermin.