![]() ![]() The responses to our survey about adults in custody wearing face coverings reflected the fact that they are not always required to wear one. an order from the Oregon Judicial Department, presiding judge, or local health authority provides an exception to the wearing of face coverings.people have a physical or mental condition or disability that limits their ability to wear a face covering, and/or.inside a recreation gym once staff have vacated,.inside a non-contact visitation or law library room when no one else is present,.MCSO does not require face coverings for adults in custody when:.MCSO requires all adults in custody to wear face coverings outside their housing units.MCSO does not require adults in custody to wear a face covering inside their housing unit, if the unit residents have passed quarantine for a minimum period of time established by the local health authority.MCSO requires new adults in custody to wear a face covering whenever out of their cell.Is there a policy about face coverings for service users (adults in custody)? If so, were face coverings being worn at the time of our audit? For example, according to the special order, face coverings are not required for staff working in control rooms by themselves or when they can maintain recommended physical distancing. MCSO management said some of the issues with face covering compliance is related to when the Sheriff requires them. Survey question: In my experience, county employees wear masks or face coverings when working with the public or within 6 feet of others. As of October 23, 2020, MCSO reported that they had not disciplined any staff for non-compliance with the face covering order. Staff reported that some of their coworkers were not taking COVID-19 seriously and not complying with face covering requirements. More than 50% of MCSO staff in the jails who responded to the survey reported that County employees wear face coverings only sometimes or rarely. In fall 2020, we sent a survey to all county employees to provide them with an opportunity to communicate their experiences during the pandemic. In July, the press and others reported that MCSO staff were not wearing face coverings in the jails. The distinction between policy and special order is important because a special order allows for staff members to be disciplined for non-compliance. ![]() On August 6, 2020, the Sheriff upgraded the policy to the level of a special order mandating the use of face coverings.On June 24, 2020, the Sheriff issued a face covering policy consistent with the Governor and County Chair’s direction for the use of face coverings – mandating face coverings in all jail settings because physical distancing can be difficult.In early April 2020, the Sheriff issued a recommendation for all staff to wear masks when within 6 feet of each other, per CDC guidance.The Sheriff has revised the direction about wearing masks over time: Staff that come and go from the facilities are one of the greatest risks for introduction of COVID-19 into the jails. Requiring that face coverings be worn in the jails is a critical part of the plan to decrease exposure to COVID-19 and to contain any outbreak, should one occur. Is there a policy requiring jail staff to wear face coverings? If so, were people wearing them at the time of our audit? MCSO uses guidance from Multnomah County Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). MCSO guidance is consistent with central county guidance. Management has written pandemic policies that cover a variety of topics such as face coverings, screening of COVID-19 signs and symptoms, disinfecting surfaces, visitation, and court hearings. And, because the staff includes about 460 people who come and go each day, jails also put their staff’s communities at risk.ĭoes the MCSO have a written plan for how to respond to the pandemic and future outbreaks? Local jails, like Multnomah County’s, are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 outbreaks because of the high turnover of adults in custody, the confined indoor space, and the limited ability to control who comes into the jails. MCDC houses adults in custody for the county, as well as adults in custody involved in state and federal court matters. MCDC serves as the primary initial booking facility for all people arrested within Multnomah County. It is located near the Portland International Airport. The Inverness Jail is a medium security facility primarily made up of open dormitories. MCDC is a maximum security facility made up of individual cells. The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) operates two jails, the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) and the Inverness Jail. Multnomah County Inverness Jail & Multnomah County Detention Center: Sheriff’s Office worked with the Health Department on policies and process, but compliance with policies is an ongoing challenge ![]()
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