Chapter 5 – Adult Custody and Security Operations

51020.12.5 Food Trays

• Accountability for food trays is an operational concern for the safety and security of institutions. It is important that the staff who issue food trays to inmates in cells account for all trays after the meal is concluded.

• If the inmate refuses to return a food tray, the supervisor and the First or Second Level Managers shall be notified. Staff shall document the inmate’s refusal to return the food tray on a CDC-115, Rules Violation Report.

• The inmate will be advised that they shall not receive another meal until the first scheduled mealtime after the tray is returned. Additionally, the inmate-and all other inmates in the pod/section- will be placed on escort/restraint status to prevent passing of contraband items. Inmates may exit their cells to acquire various services. If the cell is vacated, staff will use that opportunity to retrieve the food tray.

• Notice shall be provided to staff members working subsequent shifts to ensure their awareness of the circumstances. Institution/facility staff shall implement security measures to deter and prevent the movement of the retained food tray from one cell to another.

• If the inmate retains control of the food tray for a period of 24 hours, the Manager shall determine if controlled force will be used to retrieve the tray. This does not preclude the Manager from making a determination, based on safety and security concerns, to retrieve the tray using force prior to the 24-hour time frame.

• If the goal of the controlled use of force is only to retrieve the tray, all staff shall be informed of this in advance. If the inmate has retreated to the back of the cell and the tray can be safely retrieved without the application of force, then staff shall retrieve the tray and exit the cell.