Contra Costa County Municipal Code Ch. 1104-4 Sheriff's Inmate Sign Program

(a) The sheriff's inmate sign program uses county jail inmate labor to produce metal, plastic, and vinyl signs and awards for Contra Costa County departments, cities, special districts, other public entities, and nonprofit or for profit organizations, entities or businesses. The sheriff or the sheriff's designee is authorized to contract as necessary for the selling of signs and awards made by inmates.

(b) The purposes of the inmate sign program are to:

(1) Enhance inmates' abilities to become productive members of the community upon release from custody, through work experience, education and vocational training that will improve opportunities for their employment upon release;

(2) Reduce inmate idleness and increase the productivity of the inmate population;

(3) Promote inmate socialization;

(4) Provide needed signs to entities at reasonable cost.

(Ord. No. 2024-23, § III(Exh. A), 12-3-24; Ord. 99-27 § 2; Cal. Const. Art. XIV, § 5 (a); Pen. Code § 4018.5).

(a) The sheriff's staff shall administer the inmate sign program. Program staffing shall include a contract instructor, who shall oversee the daily operation of the program. Program staffing may include, but is not limited to, county staff, contract staff instructors from community colleges, school district adult education programs, and qualified volunteers.

(b) The sheriff shall adopt rules and regulations governing the operation of the program. The rules and regulations may include, but are not limited to, the hours of operation for the program, the number of inmates allowed to participate in the program, the location of the program, and time limits on inmates' participation.

(Ord. 99-27 § 2).

The inmate sign program shall conduct business as an enterprise fund. Initial funding for the program will come from the inmate welfare fund. The proceeds from the sales of the signs shall first reimburse the inmate welfare fund, and then offset the costs of the program.

(Ord. 99-27 § 2).

(a) Inmate participation in the inmate sign program shall be on a volunteer basis.

(b) The Sheriff shall determine inmate eligibility for the inmate sign program based on:

(1) The inmate's expressed desire to participate in the program;

(2) The compatibility of the inmate's classification and housing assignment with the inmate's participation in the program;

(3) The inmate's behavior and relationships with others at the detention facility as shown by the inmate's ability to deal with authority figures, detention facility staff and workers, and inmates;

(4) The availability of space in the program;

(5) The detention facility's security and operational needs;

(6) The safety of the inmate and other persons.

(Ord. 99-27 § 2).

Inmates participating in the inmate sign program shall:

(1) Participate in academic classes, "life skill" classes, and/or vocational training as directed;

(2) Perform assigned tasks satisfactorily, diligently and conscientiously;

(3) Perform their work and program assignments in a safe manner and according to the instructions of program staff;

(4) Cooperate with, and comply with instructions of, program staff, instructors, and other persons in charge;

(5) Comply with all sheriff imposed requirements for participation in the program;

(6) Comply with all applicable sheriff rules and regulations.

(Ord. 99-27 § 2).

The sheriff shall remove inmates from participation in the inmate sign program when any of the following occur:

(1) The inmate fails to meet any of the performance standards in Section 1104-4.010;

(2) The inmate violates any of the rules and regulations of the detention facility;

(3) The program ceases operations;

(4) The demand for signs declines significantly;

(5) The inmate's term in the program ends;

(6) The inmate is released from custody or transferred to another detention facility.

Inmates removed from participation in the inmate sign program may file an inmate grievance concerning the removal.

(Ord. 99-27 § 2).

The sheriff shall set the prices of signs at reasonable amounts, taking into consideration the funds needed to reimburse the inmate welfare fund and to offset the costs of the program.

(Ord. 99-27 § 2).