Chapter 5 – Adult Custody and Security Operations

The Transitional Housing Unit (THU) provides a program of observation to evaluate that an inmate has successfully disassociated from prison gang activity, and that they are capable of programming in a General Population (GP) setting.

Inmates must have completed the first phase of the debriefing process from a validated prison gang in order to be placed into the THU. Placement into the THU can be from either a Security Housing Unit (SHUSecurity Housing Unit) or from GP. Inmates will be admitted into the program to participate in multifaceted programming components designed to verify the inmate is able to successfully integrate back into the GP.

The THU is primarily designed for inmates who have served lengthy SHUSecurity Housing Unit terms due to validated gang affiliation and activity, although it shall also be made available to inmates currently housed on a GP who are involved in gang activity but desire to participate in the debriefing process. The Correctional Counselor shall screen inmate candidates and present them to the Institutional Classification Committee (ICCInstitution Classification Committee) for approval. The minimum eligible criteria shall consist of:

• The debriefing interview as set forth in California Code of Regulations, Section 3378.1(b) must be satisfactorily completed at the institutional level through the Institution Gang Investigator, and the debriefing package submitted to the Office of Correctional Safety.

• The inmate must be willing to commit to personal change and provide staff with sufficient evidence of their sincerity to the extent that staff feel confident of that commitment.

The debriefing process is designed to review and monitor the sincerity of each individual and ensure that the inmate participating in the process is not a threat to staff or other inmates, and has sincerely renounced all prison gang activities.

The first portion of the debriefing process is designed to obtain sufficient verifiable information from the inmate about their gang related activity, which is detrimental to the gang such that the gang will no longer accept the subject as either a member or associate. Also, a successful debriefing provides staff with information about the gang’s structure, activities, and affiliates.

The second portion of the debriefing process will involve participation in the THU program. The THU program allows for a period of staff observation, and a time for the inmate to adjust back into an integrated group yard setting and double celled housing. This observation/adjustment period helps to ensure that an inmate will be able to program with inmates of all races and ethnic groups, as well as other disassociated prison gang members/associates.

This article provides the policies that are necessary to establish a THU at a designated institution. The THU program will be up to a 6 month program consisting of components to include, but not be limited to, conflict resolution, anger control, substance abuse education, communication skills, individual counseling, and group exercises.

THU inmates shall be required to attend and actively participate in the program, and shall be assigned work group/privilege group A1A. Inmates shall be advised of program expectations and that inappropriate behavior may result in the issuance of a Rules Violation Report. Any disciplinary action deemed serious in nature, or one that is related to gang activity, shall result in referral to an ICCInstitution Classification Committee for program review and possible removal from the THU.

The THU program at the designated institutions will be carried out in three stages.

Stage 1 – Orientation Status

• Upon arrival at the designated institution, THU designated inmates shall be placed on orientation status not to exceed 14 calendar days. This period of orientation has been established for the inmate’s safety. It affords inmates the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the prison and apprise appropriate staff members of any problem situation, such as potential enemies, prior to being placed in the actual THU program. During the orientation period, the inmate shall be housed in a THU orientation designated section, and considered for double cell housing by ICCInstitution Classification Committee. Inmates shall appear before a classification committee to affirm proper endorsement into the THU program and for appropriate program assignment.

• During this period:

  • Inmates’ program activities will be limited to housing unit activities, and will not include yard or dayroom activities. Authorized emergency phone calls will be allowed. All inmates shall be fed in their cell during this phase.

  • Inmates shall be escorted when it is necessary for them to leave the unit.

  • Interviews, tests, and other activities related to the orientation process shall be conducted within the orientation unit, when possible.

  • Inmates will be reminded that gang related activity or behavior of any nature will not be tolerated, and will be grounds for dismissal from the program.

  • All inmates on THU orientation status will be instructed to contact the assigned housing unit floor officer and/or assigned correctional counselor about questions or issues that arise.

  • Following their appearance before committee, eligible inmates will be removed from THU orientation status and assigned to the second stage of the program.

Stage II – Program and Participation

• Upon completion of the Stage 1 orientation, participants shall be placed in the THU GP portion of the program, for approximately five and one-half months.

• During this period:

  • Inmates are allowed to participate in dayroom and yard activities, as well as eat in the THU dining hall.

  • Inmates are required to double cell in accordance with the Department’s Integrated Housing and Housing Assignment Policy (see Title 15, Sections 3269 and 3269.1). Failure to comply may result in the inmate failing to satisfactorily complete the THU program.

  • Inmates must participate in one or more of the available self help group activities, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Conflict and Anger/Lifelong Management, Substance Abuse Education, Basic Vocational Skills, and Alternatives to Violence or victim awareness programs. Inmates must also participate in any assigned Adult Basic Education and General Education Development.

  • Inmates in this stage of the program shall be allowed special purchases, canteen draw, and allowed to attend religious services when offered. These privileges shall not conflict with a work assignment unless otherwise permitted in regulations.

  • Inmates are eligible for work assignments as THU mentors, THU housing unit porters, or THU clerks.

Stage III – Completion

• Upon satisfactory completion of the THU program, inmates shall be housed in a specific portion of the THU housing unit, and will be referred to a classification committee for transfer consideration. Pending transfer, inmates will be assigned as mentors to other THU inmates or to other work assignments as available, and retain their work/privileges group designation.

• Inmates failing to satisfactorily complete the THU program shall be referred to ICCInstitution Classification Committee for further program and housing determination.

Custody operations are designed to provide adequate services for an inmate’s housing and program needs. These services, with certain limitations, are the same basic services offered to GP inmates. They shall allow the THU inmates meaningful interaction with other inmates within the THU program. Limitations will occur in the process of ensuring THU inmates are separate at all times from other GP inmates due to potential safety concerns related to gang disassociation. Although it is recognized that the THU inmates will ultimately be integrated into various GP settings, their initial status and program restrictions require that THU inmates be separated from non-THU inmates. All movement to any satellite service or function outside of the THU housing unit shall be by staff escort and require the securing of all accessible gates, doors, and adjacent inmate programs. All canteen will be dispersed inside the THU. Visiting accessibility is required and must be incorporated into the institutional visiting schedule, according to the Department’s inmate visiting regulations.

All specifics relative to such inmate activities as canteen, telephone calls, dayroom activities, etc., shall be set forth in the designated institution’s DOMDepartment Operations Manual supplement.

The Director, Division of Adult Institutions, shall ensure the contents of this Article are current.

CCRCalifornia Code of Regulations §§ 3000, 3378, 3378.1, 3378.3, 3269, and 3269.1.

DOMDepartment Operations Manual articles 52070, 54046, and 54055.