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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 6. Criminal Justice And Corrections
Agency 15. State Board of Local and Regional Jails
Chapter 81. Standards for Planning, Design, Construction, and Reimbursement of Local Correctional Facilities
12/26/2024

6VAC15-81-640. Intake and processing.

A. The central intake unit shall be located within the secure perimeter of the facility, outside the general population housing units and shall be separated from other areas by an interior security wall.

B. The central intake unit shall be constructed to provide the following areas:

1. Booking or processing, including photographing and fingerprinting.

2. Clothing storage and issue.

3. Control room or station.

4. Custody transfer.

5. Intake cells and group cells.

6. Interview.

7. Medical screening.

8. Orientation.

9. Property storage.

10. Provisions for telephone calls.

11. Records storage (if not provided elsewhere).

12. Release and staging for court (if applicable).

13. Strip search and shower.

14. Video arraignment if arraignment is not provided elsewhere.

C. Intake cells and group areas.

1. Space shall be provided for intake of inmates at a minimum of one for every 10 inmates for which the facility is designed up to the first 400 beds of design capacity.

a. Intake cells, group cells, and open seating shall be provided at a ratio of one for every 40 beds of additional design capacity above 400.

b. Consideration shall be made for future expansion.

c. At least 50% of this required capacity shall be single cells with the remainder being a combination of group cells and open seating area. Exception: The number of single cells may be reduced based on approved statistical documentation or needs identified in the needs assessment.

2. Intake cells shall be designed to contain a minimum of 45 square feet for single occupancy cells plus 15 square feet per inmate for each additional inmate for which the cell is designed.

3. Each cell shall contain at least one stationary bench or bunk, hot and cold running water, a combination stainless steel toilet and lavatory with push button metering activators, and a sanitary bubbler.

4. Intake cells shall provide optimized observation of the interior of the cell. Modesty screening is required for toilets in cells with grillage or glazed openings greater than a total of 120 square inches in any cell wall. Exception: An observation cell with flushing floor drain and a bunk sized slab or platform raised a minimum of six inches above floor for sleeping is not required to have a toilet, lavatory, or privacy screening.

5. Lighting in cells, toilets, and showers shall be provided from a maximum security fixture of sufficient intensity to permit sight supervision.

6. Natural light and dayrooms are not required for intake cells or areas.

7. Intake cells shall be constructed as maximum security cells with maximum security doors, hardware, fixtures, equipment, and glazing or bar grille woven rod or combination thereof.

8. Toilets and lavatories shall be provided for use by those in open seating holding. Plumbing fixtures in this area shall be maximum security.

9. Showers shall be provided as follows:

a. For facilities with a design capacity of 200 or less: a minimum of two showers.

b. For facilities with a design capacity of 201 or more: a minimum of one additional shower for every 300 beds, or portion thereof, of additional design capacity.

D. Nonperimeter entrances and exits for the intake and release area shall be capable of being controlled from intake or local control. Security perimeter doors shall be controlled from master control only.

E. Secure storage space for inmate personal property shall be provided adjacent in proximity to the intake or release area.

1. The recommended amount of space is four to six inches of linear hanging space per inmate for which the facility is designed plus one cubic foot in bins or lockers, per inmate, for items that cannot be hung.

2. Consideration shall be given to providing washers and dryers in this area.

F. Release and court holding.

1. Consideration shall be given to separation of traffic patterns and additional holding for inmate release area and for court holding.

2. Number of cells shall be as defined in the needs assessment.

3. Egress for these areas shall be separate from the area serving the intake and booking entrance.

G. Temporary juvenile holding, pursuant to § 16.1-249 G of the Code of Virginia, if provided, shall be as follows:

1. Construction of juvenile cells or units shall be in accordance with this chapter as required for maximum security adult housing.

2. This ward or unit shall be physically, audibly, and visually separated from adult areas.

H. Consideration shall be given to future expansion.

Statutory Authority

§§ 53.1-5, 53.1-80, and 53.1-82 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 34, Issue 12, eff. March 8, 2018.

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