Report 2018-106 Recommendation 6 Responses

Report 2018-106: Correctional Officer Health and Safety: Some State and County Correctional Facilities Could Better Protect Their Officers From the Health Risks of Certain Inmate Attacks (Release Date: September 2018)

Recommendation #6 To: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

To make certain that victims are aware of threats to their health, Men's Central should follow state law and ensure that its medical personnel immediately inform victims of gassing attacks of any evidence suggesting that the inmates involved have a communicable disease. It should further document that it has provided this information to victims.

60-Day Agency Response

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department - Custody Division, including the Men's Central Jail, has implemented the following policy: Custody Operation Informational Bulletin #2018-06, "Supervisor's Gassing Checklist." The bulletin is to ensure consistency in completion of the Supervisor's Gassing Checklist. The checklist includes vital report forms including Communicable Disease Exposure Report, Report of Request and Decision for HIV Testing, as well as notifications to Psychological Services Bureau. Once the Supervisor's Gassing Checklist is completed, the victim employee signs the form accounting for the notifications and reports. Copies of the policy, checklist, and indicate forms will be included in this response.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Fully Implemented

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department revised its policies to require its supervisors to complete a checklist following a gassing incident. The checklist includes completion of a request for inmate testing. As we note on page 16 of our report, Men's Central would inform victims of gassing attacks of any evidence suggesting that the inmates involved have a communicable disease if the victim requested that the inmate be tested. However, officers had not consistently requested such information. Requiring the inmate testing form as part of the checklist should help to ensure that victims are informed of threats to their health.

All Recommendations in 2018-106

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.