CY 02 Evacuation and Alternative Containment

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Washington County Sheriff's Office

CORRECTIONS DIVISION

Policy Manual

Volume: CY

Contingency Management

Chapter: 02

Evacuation and Alternative Containment

Replaces and/or Supersedes:

PY 13 2009-05-20

Published:

03/05/2012

Review Date:

04/13/2021

Sheriff Cory C. Pulspiher

Chief Deputy Jake Schultz

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CY 02_101 Definitions

CY 02_102 References

CY 02_103 General

CY 02_104 Points of Entry and Exit

CY 02_105 Evacuation Routes

CY 02_106 Evacuation Supplies

CY 02_107 Decision to Evacuate

CY 02_108 Notification

CY 02_109 Evacuation

CY 02_101 DEFINITIONS

WCSO: Washington County Sheriff's Office
PCF: Purgatory Correctional Facility
Internal Containment: The holding of inmates within the walls of PCF.
External On-Site Containment: The holding of inmates outside the walls of PCF but within the fenced perimeter of PCF.
Off-Site Containment: The holding of inmates at any location other than PCF.
CCC: Community Corrections Center

CY 02_102 REFERENCES

Utah Counties Insurance Pool:
1. WC-III.F.
Utah Sheriffs' Association Jail Standards:
1. F06.02.02: Evacuation Plans

CY 02_103 GENERAL

Policy:
1. PCF should plan and coordinate with other agencies to establish preparations for inmate evacuations and alternative containment. Depending on the specifics of the incident, other agencies' personnel and resources may be required. PCF staff should work in harmony with other agencies in order to meet the demands of the situation.
2. Evacuation training and drills should be conducted.
Rationale:
1. Without prior planning and coordination, the effectiveness of emergency response efforts will be greatly diminished. To reasonably ensure that PCF receives necessary emergency services and support, prior planning and coordination is required.

CY 02_104 POINTS OF ENTRY AND EXIT

Policy:
1. All key facility doors should have a name or identifying code and should be clearly labeled at the top and bottom on both sides. Each door should be identified on an emergency response map with the corresponding lock and key identifiers.
2. Exit doors should be marked or lighted according to current local fire code standards.
3. All doorways and evacuation routes should remain clear of blockage unless such blockage is required to accomplish an emergency procedure.
Rationale:
1. A reference map in combination with clearly identified doors could help emergency responders identify their current locations and help them move quickly throughout the facility; especially for responders who may not be familiar with the layout of PCF. Door identifiers on the bottom of doors may be visible when the top of the doors are not visible (e.g., due to smoke). Door identifiers on the top of doors may be visible when the bottom of the doors are not visible (e.g., due to flooding).
2. Fire code standards have been well accepted as beneficial in the event of an emergency.

CY 02_105 EVACUATION ROUTES

Policy:
1. Evacuation route maps should be posted at the following locations for staff reference (maps should not be viewable by inmates):
  1. Booking;
  2. Caseworker's Office;
  3. East Control;
  4. Commissary Office;
  5. CCC Office;
  6. ICE Office;
  7. Kitchen Office;
  8. West Control;
  9. Medical Office;
  10. Programming Office;
  11. Property Room; and
  12. Sergeants' Office.
Rationale:
1. Pre-defined evacuation routes may help reduce confusion and allow for a more efficient evacuation process.

CY 02_106 EVACUATION SUPPLIES

Policy:
1. Each housing unit control center (i.e., Booking, East, West, CCC) should maintain wrist restraints for double the total inmate capacity of that area, plus 10%.
2. One tether should be stored for every two inmates of the total potential capacity, plus 10%. Two inmates should be tethered together during off-site evacuation.
Rationale:
1. Inmates should be placed in restraints when not contained within the secure facility. A storage supply of enough restraints for each area should be located at the control center of each area in order to facilitate a quick response time. There should be enough restrains to facilitate the evacuation as well as the return trip.
2. Inmates chained or restrained together in groups will be less able to escape.

CY 02_107 DECISION TO EVACUATE

Policy:
1. When possible, the decision to conduct a partial or full evacuation should be made by, or with authority from, the Corrections Chief Deputy. The decision to conduct a partial or full evacuation may be made by the on-duty supervisor or other higher-ranking WCSO official. However, the Corrections Chief Deputy should be informed as soon as possible.
2. Internal containment options should be considered first. However, if internal containment options are deemed unsuitable (i.e., safety or security risks are too high), external on-site containment options should be considered. If external on-site containment options are deemed unsuitable, off site containment options should be used. In the event that it is necessary to evacuate part or all of the inmate population to an off-site location, the supervisor in charge should contact the Corrections Chief Deputy and the Washington County Emergency Operations Director in order to make arrangements for off-site containment and transportation. In some situations, an Incident Commander may already be on-scene to make these arrangements.
Rationale:
1. The Corrections Chief Deputy may be held responsible for the decisions and actions of PCF staff and should be aware of events in order to provide proper direction.

CY 02_108 NOTIFICATION

Policy:
1. In the event that a partial or full evacuation is deemed necessary, PCF staff should notify the:
  1. On-duty supervisor;
  2. Corrections Chief Deputy;
  3. Undersheriff;
  4. Sheriff.
2. The Corrections Chief Deputy should determine and/or delegate further notifications. Depending on circumstances, injuries, damages, safety concerns, or security threats, notification should be made to:
  1. Washington County Emergency Operations Director;
  2. Dispatch;
  3. Local law enforcement agencies;
  4. Local fire departments;
  5. St. George Regional Hospital;
  6. Washington County building inspectors;
  7. Designated special response teams;
  8. Utah Department of Corrections;
  9. Immigration and Customs Enforcement;
  10. Utility companies;
  11. Other agencies of contract inmates.
Rationale:
1. Notifying appropriate personnel and agencies may be required by contract.
2. Notified personnel and agencies may be able to render additional support.

CY 02_109 EVACUATION

Policy:
1. Armed personnel should be posted outside the exterior perimeter.
2. Under the direction of the on-duty supervisor, PCF staff should:
  1. Place the entire facility on lockdown status;
  2. Obtain a current section housing roster;
  3. Evacuate according to the on-duty supervisor's directions and in a calm manner. Inmates should be instructed to evacuate in a calm manner and to not talk. Evacuation should begin with the areas of greatest risk of harm and end with the areas of least risk of harm;
  4. Ensure inmates are counted, placed into restraints, tethered in pairs, and escorted to the evacuation destination. Wrist restraints should be used on all inmates. Leg restraints should be used for violent or unpredictable inmates. This may include all Lockdown, Level One, and other specially housed inmates. Short-term, non-contract inmates should be accounted for, have their identification verified, current property inventoried and documented, and released on specific terms for a twenty-four hour Special Release. This twenty-four hour period should then be used to determine whether there will be suitable housing available upon the inmates' return. If there is not going to be housing available, a decision should be sought from the Courts as to whether or not the inmates should be transferred to another facility or released from custody. For contract inmates, the contracting agency should be contacted in order to arrange the transfer of their inmates to another facility in the event that there will not be suitable housing available at PCF.
  5. Ensure inmates are grouped by housing section and instructed to remain in the order that their name is listed on the section housing roster.
  6. Instruct inmates to remain silent after reaching the evacuation destination;
  7. Conduct a head count at least once every thirty minutes in non-disturbance areas;
  8. Conduct a continual facility security check by posting personnel at key locations and utilizing video surveillance equipment;
  9. Isolate and place in full restraints any disruptive inmates;
  10. Provide the Corrections Chief Deputy with situation updates; and
  11. If vacating a control room:
    1. Turn all control boards off and retain the control board keys (along with any other keys in the room) until the keys can be given to the supervisor in charge;
    2. Remove all weapons from the control room;
    3. If time permits, gather all inmate rosters and sensitive documentation; and
    4. If time permits, turn off all computers and unplug all electrical equipment.
3. If inmates are transported off-site, at least one non-driver, armed officer should be present in each transport vehicle.
Rationale:
1. Following pre-determined evacuation guidelines (when appropriate) may allow for a more efficient evacuation.