Chapter 5 – Adult Custody and Security Operations

54020.33.16 Food for Family Visiting

• Inmates participating in the FVP shall be required to purchase all food for the visitor and themselves with funds from their trust account. A minimum of two meals per day, per person, shall be purchased prior to commencement of the family visit.

• Family Visiting Food Menu

  • Each institution shall maintain a family-visiting menu from which to choose. The family visiting menu shall provide the following food items:

    • Minimum of five, maximum of ten, breakfast entrees.

    • Minimum of five, maximum of ten, lunch entrees.

    • Minimum of five, maximum of ten, dinner entrees.

    • Beverages, including bottled water, milk, and soda.

    • Fresh fruit.

    • Maximum of ten miscellaneous items.

  • Visitors with infants may be allowed the following items:

    • Powdered or bottled formula in vendor-sealed containers.

    • Baby food in vendor-sealed jars.

• Medically Prescribed Diets

  • Visitors shall be allowed to bring medically prescribed food items to a family visit under the following conditions:

    • The visitor shall provide a physician’s statement to the family visiting coordinator, which includes a description of the diet, and describes why the diet must be continued during the visit.

    • All food items must be vendor-sealed with recognizable labels.

  • If an inmate is being supplied a nourishment bag and/or food supplements ordered by a physician or dentist, the inmate shall be provided with the prescribed dietary additions during the visit.

• Funds for FVP Meals

  • Inmates shall submit a completed FVP menu form with a CDC Form 193, Trust Account Withdrawal Order, authorizing a charge to the inmate’s trust account, to the family visiting coordinator at least three weeks prior to the visit.

  • At least two weeks prior to the visit, a copy of CDC Form 193 shall be delivered to the trust office by the family visiting coordinator. If sufficient funds are not available in the inmate’s trust account, the family visiting coordinator shall inform the inmate that the scheduled visit has been canceled.

  • Funds sent to an inmate’s trust account specifically designated for family visit food item and accompanied by a completed, signed CDC Form 1839, Exemption of Family Visit/Temporary Community Leave Funds from Restitution Fines/Orders, shall be exempt from restitution fines or orders.

• Processing of Food Order

  • On the day of the visit, the family visiting coordinator shall facilitate the delivery of the food order to the visiting units at the commencement of the visit.

• Unclaimed Food Items

  • If a family visit is canceled due to institution operations after the purchase of a food order, the inmate may request reimbursement to their trust account for the amount of the food order.

  • Reimbursement of trust account funds shall be limited to family visit cancellations due to institutional actions such as:

    • Suspension of the FVP due to institution emergency.

    • A disciplinary hearing finding of not guilty after a charge of misconduct which restricted family visiting privileges.

  • Such reimbursement is subject to the provisions of DOMDepartment Operations Manual Chapter 5, Article 53, Section 54100, and applicable Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board rules.

  • If the family visit is canceled due to the actions of the inmate and the inmate has been charged for the food, the institution/shall allow person(s) designated by the inmate to claim the food within 72 hours of the cancellation.

  • The final disposition of food remaining unclaimed after 72 hours shall be the responsibility of the institution.