Chapter 3 – Health Care Operations

3.3.4.8 Incarcerated Dental Workers

• Policy

  • Dental departments within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) may utilize incarcerated persons as dental laboratory technician trainees and dental porters.  The utilization of incarcerated dental workers shall require the prior approval of the institution’s Associate Warden (AW) for Health Care Services, or Captain when there is no Health Care Services AW position allocated at the institution.

• Purpose

  • To establish guidelines for the utilization of incarcerated workers in CDCR dental departments.

• Procedure

  • Incarcerated persons shall be prohibited from performing the following duties in all CDCR dental departments:

    • Providing direct patient care services.

    • Scheduling health care appointments.

    • Determining patients’ access to dental services.

    • Handling or having access to dental instruments, syringes, or needles.

    • Operating medical/dental equipment with the exception of dental laboratory technician trainees.

    • Handling or having access to medications or health records.

    • Cleaning or disinfecting dental operatory equipment between patient appointments.

    • Cleaning and changing dental vacuum traps or chairside suction filters.

    • Cleaning and changing amalgam collectors/separators.

  • CDCR dental departments may utilize incarcerated workers as dental laboratory technician trainees and porters only after the incarcerated workers have:

    • Successfully completed training in Bloodborne Pathogens Regulations and the Senate Bill (SB) 198 Injury and Illness Prevention Program.  Minutes of all training sessions for incarcerated workers and a statement of completion of the training, signed by the incarcerated person, shall be documented and kept on file by the incarcerated supervisor prior to the incarcerated person performing any work assignments.

    • Been offered a Hepatitis B vaccination series.

  • All incarcerated workers shall have signed duty statements listing the job performance requirements and health and safety regulations. 

  • Incarcerated workers shall adhere to all safety, security and custodial regulations while working in the dental department.

  • All incarcerated workers shall be assigned to the dental department by the facility’s Inmate Work Incentive Program (IWIP) Coordinator. 

  • All supervisors of incarcerated workers shall adhere to and enforce the rules and regulations of the IWIP in the supervision of incarcerated workers and shall be responsible daily for accurately maintaining incarcerated workers’ time sheets.

  • All incarcerated workers in the dental clinic shall be under the direct supervision of a CDCR staff member at all times excluding the office technician.

  • Incarcerated dental laboratory technician trainees in the dental laboratory shall be allowed to handle dental equipment, instruments, or tools only under the direct supervision of a CDCR Dental Laboratory Technician.

  • All incarcerated workers shall receive annual training in Bloodborne Pathogens Regulations and the SB 198 Injury and Illness Prevention Program.  Training may be provided more frequently if necessary.

• Revision History

  • Effective: 04/2006
    Revised: 11/2017, 11/2020, 02/2022