SECTION .0600 ‑ SUPERVISION

10A NCAC 14J .0601       SUPERVISION

(a)  A jail shall have an officer make supervision rounds and observe each inmate at least two times within a 60 minute time period on an irregular basis with not more than 40 minutes between rounds. Supervision rounds shall be conducted 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. The supervision rounds shall be documented and maintained as written or electronic records. These records shall be made available to the Construction Section during an inspection upon request. The supplemental methods of supervision specified in Paragraph (b) of this Rule shall not substitute for supervision rounds.

(b)  A jail shall utilize one or more supplemental methods of supervision 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The supplemental methods of supervision are:

(1)           direct two‑way voice communication;

(2)           remote two-way voice communication;

(3)           direct visual observation; and

(4)           video surveillance.

(c)  While an inmate is on special watch, as specified by this Paragraph, the jail shall have an officer conduct special watch rounds and observe the inmate not less than four times within a 60 minute period on an irregular basis with not more than 20 minutes between rounds. Special watch shall be conducted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The special watch rounds shall be documented. The jail shall maintain written or electronic records of the special watch rounds and shall make these records available to the Construction Section during an inspection upon request. The supplemental methods of supervision specified in Paragraph (b) of this Rule shall not substitute for a special watch. Special watch shall be used for the following reasons:

(1)           an inmate with a medical record maintained and preserved by the jail as required by Rule .1001(b)(7) of this Subchapter that indicates the inmate has attempted suicide at a previous time, unless the inmate is seen by a physician who determines a special watch is not needed;

(2)           an inmate who reports a previous suicide attempt or threatens to commit suicide during their initial screening upon admission required by Rule .1001(b)(1) of this Subchapter, unless the inmate is seen by a physician who determines a special watch is not needed;

(3)           an inmate who has been assigned to special watch by medical or mental health personnel of the jail or an officer;

(4)           an inmate who displays any of the following behavior:

(A)          physically hitting or trying to hit an officer;

(B)          verbal abuse of other people;

(C)          threatening other people, or threatening to or engaging in self-injury;

(D)          screaming, crying, laughing uncontrollably, or refusing to talk; and

(5)           an inmate who is intoxicated by alcohol or drug use as determined at intake by one of the following:

(A)          a blood alcohol content level of .15 or greater as measured;

(B)          use of slurred speech; or

(C)          the inability to control body movement.

(d)  A jail shall make sure that officers remain awake at all times while on duty.

(e)  An officer or officers assigned to supervise inmates as required by Paragraph (a) and (c) of this Rule may be assigned other tasks if those tasks do not interfere with the completion of supervision and special watch rounds or are not performed at the same time as supervision and special watch rounds. These other tasks may include:

(1)           delivering food to inmates;

(2)           preparing inmates for and transporting inmates to court;

(3)           escorting inmates to medical appointments;

(4)           performing inmate booking and release functions;

(5)           supervising inmates working in the jail; and

(6)           exchanging inmate's soiled clothing, bed sheets, and blankets with clean clothing, bed sheets, and blankets.

(f)  A jail shall have female officers on duty when female inmates are confined.

(g)  The sheriff or the regional jail administrator shall develop contingency personnel plans for the supervision and control of inmates during a fire, an emergency event, or an emergency situation that includes rioting, bomb threats, escapes, and the taking of hostages. The contingency personnel plans shall provide for the availability of extra personnel. A contingency personnel plan shall be included in the emergency plans required by Rule .0203(18) of this Subchapter and the disaster plan required by Rule .0403(d) of this Subchapter.

(h)  A jail shall not allow an inmate to supervise or assume control over other inmates.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 153A‑221;

Eff. October 1, 1990;

Amended Eff. June 1, 1992;

Readopted Eff. September 4, 2020.