ICE Detention Standards Compliance Audit - South Texas Detention Facility, San Antonio, TX, ICE, 2007
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• oA Detention and Removal Operations U.S. Department of Homeland Security 425 I Street, NW Washington, DC 20536 u.s. Immigration . and Customs Enforcement MEMORANDUM FOR: John P. Torres b6, b7c FROM: n Officer Detention Standards Compliance Unit SUBJECT: South Texas Contract Detention Facility Annual Review The Detention Standards Compliance Unit conducted the aI1llual headquarters detention review of the South Texas Contract Detention Facility on April 10-12, 2007. The facility is operated by Global Expertise in Outsourcing (GEO). Headquarters Staff Officer b6, b7c b6, b7c eview and was assisted by team members b6, b7c Type of Review This review is a scheduled Headquarters Review and was conducted to determine overall compliance with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) National Detention Standards. Review Summary The facility is not accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA), the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) or the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). 2006 Review Acceptable Deficient Repeat Deficiency At-Risk 30 3 5 0 2007 Review Acceptable Deficient Repeat At-Risk 38 0 0 0 www.ice.gov SUBJECT: South Texas aract Detention Facility Annual Revie. Page 2 Advisories Access To Legal Materials Due to an increase in the detainee population, the facility is in need of additional computers for the law library. During the review, the facility submitted an action plan to order six additional computers and monitors. Additionally, six portable carts were ordered. This will enable the facility to utilize the computers within the dorms and in Administrative Segregation. Correspondence and Other Mail The receipt a detainee receives when currency or a money order is received via the mail previously had only one signature. The advisory was corrected by obtaining two signatures from the mail clerk and the witnessing officer. Food Service The assigned food service workers were observed wearing ICE issued shower sandals while working in the kitchen. The facility corrected the advisory during the review. Detainees are now required to wear their assigned rubber shoes over the ICE issued tennis shoes. The facility did not have a good accountability of sporks (a combination plastic fork and spoon issued to detainees) within food service. The facility corrected the advisory by assigning a specific staff member on each shift to count and record all issued sporks. Detainee Telephone Access The facility did not previously provide notification to detainees that their phone calls could be monitored. The facility corrected the advisory by posting a sign by the telephones in each detainee living nnit stating that all phone calls were subject to monitoring. Access To Medical Care Public Health Services (PHS) currently has a total of 46 tot h 19 vacancies. The b6 Detention Management Division's (DMD) liaison for PHS is currently working with PHS headquarters to resolve this issue. At the present time, there is no information on projected hires for these vacancies. b6 PHS reviewer noted that although the facility is currently meeting the standard of Access to Medical Care at an acceptable level, yees are being pulled to fill vacant b6 positions throughout the medicaldepartOlent. discovered that employees are remaining beyond their assigned shift j ust to complete basic duties. The ICE Cont:raGtingOfficers l Representative (COTR) (b)(6), (b)(7)c Warden b6, b7c and Health Care Administrator b6 explained that the facility cannot receive AC accreditation until the facility is aceredited by JCAHO. This issue is in the process of being addressed but has not been resolved. SUBJECT: South Texas Aract Detention Facility Annual Revie. Page 2 Areas of Best Practice Environmental Health and Safety The sanitation of the facility during the review was excellent. Cleaning schedules are followed and detainees were observed continuously cleaning throughout the review. ICE/ Contractor Working Relationship The communication between ICE and the GEO Group appears to be excellent. The COTR and Warden meet on a daily basis to discuss problems and work on solutions as a team. COTR Sparks remains proactive in addressing possible/identified problems. Staff Interaction Warden b6, b7c and the staff at the South Texas Contract Detention Facility were extremely professional and immediately retrieved requested information and corrected advisories once identified. The staff appear to be well versed in policy and procedure and take pride in their facility. The review team observed the facility operates in a calm and orderly fashion. RIC Observations StafflDetainee Communication The staff/detainee communication appears to have improved since the 2006 review. ICE officers are now required to visit the housing units at a minimum of two times per week. A written report is generated by each individual officer and forwarded to the staf£'detainee communication liaison for consolidation. The report is then forwarded to the COTR for final review and possible follow-up. Recommended Rating and Justification It is the recommendation of the RIC that the facility receive a rating of "Acceptable." The facility now fully complies with 38 of 38 standards. All deficiencies identified during the 2006 review have been addressed and corrected. RIC Assurance Statement Findings of compliance are documented on the G-324a inspection form and are fully supported by documentation in the review file. cc: Official File b2High, b6, b7c • • MANAGEMENT REVIEW The signature below constitutes review of this report and acceptance by the Office of Detention and Removal. The Facility has 30 days from receipt of this report to respond to all findings and recommendations. \ HQDRO MANAGEMENT REVIEW: (Print Name) John P. Torres /' ~1 )~ Date~ Title Director Final Rating: ,. \ Signature 0 . ~ tI01 I SuperIor Good 5?hAcceptable Deficient OAt-Risk o o Comments: Form G-324A (Rev. 8/\3/04) No Prior Version May Be Used After \0/\/04 • • Department Of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement A. Type of Facility Reviewed ICE Service Processing Center D ICE Contract Detention Facility ~ ICE Intergovernmental Service Agreement D Detention Facility Inspection Form Facilities Used Over 72 hours G. Accreditation Certificates List all State or National Accreditation[s] received: ~ Check box if facility has no accreditation[s] B. Current Inspection H. Problems 1 Complaints (Copies must be attached) The Facility is under Court Order or Class Action Finding D Class Action Order D Court Order The Facility has Significant Litigation Pending D Major Litigation D Life/Safety Issues . ...... ... .... . !1:£!lCheckFfN(frre: . Type of Inspection D Field Office ~ HQ Inspection Date[s] of Facility Review April 10·12, 2007 ....... .... C. PreviouslMost Recent Facility Review Date[s] of Last Facility Review October 24-26, 2007 Previous Rating D Superior D Good D Acceptable D Deficient ~ At-Risk . I. Facilitv Historv Date Built May 2005 Date Last Remodeled or Upgraded D. Name and Location of Facility N/A Name Date New Construction 1 Bedspace Added January 2007 Future Construction Plarmed DYes ~No Date: Current Bedspace I Future Bedspace (# New Beds only) 1904 Number: Date: South Texas Detention Complex Address (Street and Name) 566 Veterans Drive City, State and Zip Code Pearsall, Texas 78061 County Frio Name and Title or Chief Executive Officer (Warden/OIC/Superintendent) b6, b7c Facility Administrator Telephone # (Include Area Code) (830) b6, b7c Field Office I Sub-Office (List Office with oversight responsibilities) San Antonio Distance from Field Office J. Total Facility Population Total Facility Intake for previous 12 months 22,281 Total ICE Mandays for Previous 12 months 500,322 (April 06- March 07) 60 Miles ICE Information inspector (Last Name, Title and Duty Station) b6, b7c 1 DDO 1 Washington DC Name of Team Member 1 Title 1 Duty Location b6 1 PHS 1 Houston, Texas Name of Team Member 1 Title 1 Duty Location b6, b7c 1 DO 1Houston, Texas Name of Team Member 1 Title 1 Duty Location b6, b7c 1 lEA 1 EI Paso, Texas (ICE SPCs and CDFs Onl L-1 L-2 L-3 1239 94 72 339 11 8 E F CDFIIGSA I nf ormatJOD 0 my I Contract Number Date of Contract orIGSA January 23, 2004 ACD-4-C-OOO I Basic Rates per Man-Day $94.58 Other Charges: (If None, Indicate N/A) ; ; Estimated Man-days Per Year 228,125 I Adult Female L. Facility Ca aeitv Rated ODerational Emer!!encv Adult Male 1450 Adult Female 388 D Facility holds Juveniles Offenders 16 and older as Adults M.... A~er~gen~ily Population -- - ----- ,=,,-=-;ICE I AdultMale 929.58 I Adult Female 324.67 ~- USMS Otber N. Facility Staffing Level b2High Form G-324A (Rev. 8/13/04) No Prior Version May Be Used After 1011104 • • Significant Incident Summary Worksheet For ICE to complete its review of your facility, the following information must be completed prior to the scheduled review dates. The information on this form should contain data for the past twelve months in the boxes provided. The information on this form is used in conjunction with the ICE Detention Standards in assessing your Detention Operations against the needs of the ICE and its detained population. This form should be filled out by the facility prior to the start of any inspection. Failure to complete this section will result in a delay in processing this report and the possible reduction or removal ofICE' detainees at your facility. ., D" Types, Assault: Offenders on Offenders I Jul- Sept Physical Oct-Dec Physical, Sexual 0 0 4 2 1 0 16 30 etc.) .., Types (Sexual m~'. , etc.) ,,) . ")' 0 0 1 0 2 2 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 4 1 5 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 With Without we. )on :~~~~:~::~~~~~~~~~s, Disturbances4 ":;~~~;'Js~~ IIno' rHo • of Times Apr-Jun Physical With Assault: Detainee on Staff I ~', Jan-Mar Physical ~ ~ ~ _: Special l>, '1),ed _ 1 , ,~ " # Times FourlFive Point Restraints applied/used , L !,~e_(C=<?h~ir,~B.=B,ed. _~'_=M.'~' _ as a result of injuries . . • Escapes Actual Grievances: # Received I in favor of # n, Deaths , ReasonC ',,",<m, Suicide, Psychiatric I Melllcal Referrals 1# I . : ~:;:ses referred for #. ;:,; .. Cases referred for n" .. :A~ Care Any attempted physical contact or physicaJ contact that involves two or more offenders Ora], ana] or vaginal penetration or attempted penetration involving at least 2 parties, whether it is consenting or non-consenting Routine transportation of detainees/offenders is not considered ''forced'' Any incident that involves four or more detainees/offenders, includes gang fights, organized multiple hunger strikes, work stoppages, hostage situations, major fires, or other large scale incidents. Form G-324A (Rev. 8/13/04) No Prior Version May Be Used After 10/1104 • • I. 2. 3. 4. Access to Legal Materials Group Presentations on Legal Rights Visitation Access 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. II. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. Admission and Release Classification System Correspondence and Other Mail Detainee Handbook Food Service Funds and Personal Property Detainee Grievance Procedures Issuance and Exchange of Clothing, Bedding, and Towels Marriage Requests Non-Medical Emergency Escorted Trip Recreation Religious Practices Work 18. 19. 20. Hunger Strikes Medical Care Suicide Prevention and Intervention 21. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. Detention Files Disciplinary Policy Emergency Plans Environmental Health and Safety Hold Rooms in Detention Facilities Key and Lock Control Population Counts Post Orders Security Inspections Special Management Units (Administrative Segregation) Special Management Units (Disciplinary Segregation) Tool Control Transportation (Land management) Use of Force . Staff / Detainee Communication (Added August 2003) Detainee Transfer (Added September 2004) All findings (Deficient and At-Risk) require written comment describing the finding and what is necessary to meet compliance. FormG-324A (Rev. 8/13/04) No Prior Version May Be Used After 10/1/04 • RIC Review Assurance Statement • By signing below, the Reviewer-In-Charge (RIC) certifies that all findings of noncompliance with policy or inadequate controls contained in the Inspection Report are supported by evidence that is sufficient and reliable. Furthermore, findings of noteworthy accomplishments are supported by sufficient and reliable evidence. Within the scope of the review, the facility is operating in accordance with applicable law and policy, and property and resources are efficiently used and adequately safeguarded, except for the deficiencies noted in the report. Reviewer-In-Charge: (print Name) b6, b7c b6, b7c Title & Duty Location / Washington, DC I April 25, 2007 b6 b6, b7c <//()~/O7 b6, b7c Immigration Enforcement Agent, El Paso, Texas Recommended Rating: o Superior o Good [8J Acceptable o Deficient OAt-Risk Comments: It is the recommendation of the RIC that the facility receive a rating of "Acceptable." The facility now fully complies with 38 of38 standards. Form G-324A (Rev. 8/13/04) No Prior Version May Be Used After 10/]/04