Chapter 5 – Adult Custody and Security Operations

53130.8.2 Priority Ducat System

• The counseling series and medical department shall be permitted to ducat inmates for casework services or medical treatment during their assigned work hours under the following conditions:

• Casework Purposes

  • The counseling series shall be authorized to use the regular institutional pass (ducat) system for routine casework contacts. When it is necessary to make casework contacts during an inmate’s work hours, a “priority ducat request” shall be initiated including only those inmates who will be on scheduled work assignments. This shall be done separately from any normal ducat request and the priority request shall require either the approval of the chairperson of a properly constituted classification committee or the approval of the originator’s immediate supervisor.

  • Based on a properly approved “priority ducat request” a pass shall be issued which shall be clearly identified in one of two ways. The pass shall either be printed on different color paper clearly distinguishing it as a priority ducat or the word “priority” shall be clearly stamped or printed on the ducat in bold red letters. At the termination of the contact with the inmate, the arrival time and departure time shall be recorded on the back of the pass. This shall be returned by the inmate to their work supervisor for purposes of timekeeping and inmate accountability. Inmates off the job for properly approved casework contacts shall be given “S” time by their work supervisors upon receipt of a properly authorized priority ducat with the arrival and departure times recorded on the reverse side, signed or initialed by the recording employee.

• Health Care Services

  • All health care appointments, medical, dental and mental health shall be via the priority ducat process.

  • At the termination of the medical contact, the inmate’s arrival and departure time shall be recorded on the back of the pass. The pass shall be returned by the inmate to the work supervisor to facilitate accountability and timekeeping by the work supervisor. “S” time shall be recorded by the work supervisor for the time spent away from the work/training assignment under these circumstances.