Chapter 5 – Adult Custody and Security Operations

54110.4 Initial Response

• As soon as possible, the victim should attempt to determine if the substance was a gassing substance such as urine, feces, sputum, blood, semen, etc. This determination is accomplished by the victim noting the odor, color, and texture of the substance and any chemical reactions, etc. The victim does not have to examine the substance that was thrown on them. Rather, as soon as practical, the victim should either relay their impression of what the substance was to the officers assigned to investigate the gassing or include it in their report.

• The victim’s clothing that is contaminated by the gassing substance is evidence. As soon as practical, the clothing should be relinquished by the victim, replaced with an available garment, and any stains that appear to be from the gassing substance should be outlined with a black permanent ink marker to assist laboratory personnel to locate the site on the clothing. The stains should also be photographed while they are still wet. Caution should be taken to ensure that separate stains on the clothing articles do not touch each other. Staff are advised to practice universal precautions and wear proper protective clothing when handling the clothing, as well as, to maintain the chain of custody of the clothing item.

• Every effort should be made to obtain a statement or report from the victim regarding what they observed including, but not limited to:

  • What the suspect stated before, during, and after the gassing.

  • The type of container, if any, used by the suspect to commit the gassing.

  • The actions of the suspect both before and after the gassing.

• Any admissions or inculpatory statements made by the suspect that were overheard by the victim can be critical in achieving a successful prosecution.

• Any employee that comes into contact with a human body fluid, as recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will be evaluated by appropriately licensed and trained medical staff. The medical evaluation will take priority over the collection of evidence, report writing, or other non-emergency issues or duties. The requirement to fill out paper work or receive paper work relating to the incident will not delay the employee from seeking offsite medical care.

• The inmate suspect(s) should be removed from their cell or area where the attack occurred and searched for evidence. Any clothing items worn by the suspect(s) that appear to be stained with the same substance as thrown on the victim should be marked, photographed, and collected in the same manner as the victim’s clothing. The suspect(s) should be placed in a secure holding cell and a crime scene search should be initiated. If there is more than one suspect, they should be separated immediately.