Physical Plant

(1) Type I, II, III, and IV Facilities shall meet the following requirements unless otherwise specified. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES CHAPTER 1400-01 (2) Facilities shall meet the following requirements: (a) New and existing facilities shall have, on average, lighting of at least twenty (20) foot- candles in activity areas to be measured three (3) feet off the floor. (b) New and existing facilities shall have forced air ventilation in sleeping and activity areas. (c) New facilities shall have access to natural light in sleeping and activity areas. (d) New and existing facilities shall have a temperature of not less than sixty-five (65) degrees Fahrenheit and not more than eighty (80) degrees Fahrenheit in sleeping and activity areas. (e) New facilities shall have lighting of not less than five (5) average foot-candles in sleeping areas to be measured three (3) feet off the floor. These requirements apply only to Type I, II, and III Facilities. (3) In new and existing facilities, the minimum size of a single-occupancy cell shall be thirty-five (35) square feet of clear floor space with a ceiling height of not less than eight (8) feet. At least seventy (70) square feet of total floor space shall be provided when the occupant is confined for more than ten (10) hours per day. All dimensions of cell length and width for both single and multiple-occupancy cells shall allow for a reasonable amount of usable floor space for any in-cell activities of inmates. Each cell shall contain a bunk, sink and toilet. Any questions pertaining to sufficiency of cell dimensions shall be decided by the Tennessee Corrections Institute. This requirement applies only to Type I, II, and III Facilities. (4) In new and existing facilities, the minimum size of a multiple-occupancy cell (2-64 occupants) shall be twenty-five (25) square feet of clear floor space for each occupant in the sleeping areas, with a ceiling elevation of not less than eight (8) feet. At least thirty-five (35) square feet of clear floor space shall be provided for each occupant when the occupant is confined for more than ten (10) hours per day. This requirement applies only to Type I, II, and III Facilities. (5) In new jails and workhouses, dormitories shall be designed to accommodate not more than sixty-four (64) persons. A minimum of twenty-five (25) square feet of clear floor space for each inmate must be provided in the housing area with a ceiling elevation of not less than eight (8) feet. In existing jails and workhouses, dormitories shall provide not less than twenty-five (25) square feet of floor space per occupant, exclusive of the area occupied by bunks, and a ceiling height of not less than eight (8) feet. If an inmate who occupies a dormitory has regular access to additional living areas, the additional area may be added on a pro rata basis to the square footage available to an inmate. A dayroom is required with thirty-five (35) square feet per inmate for the maximum number of users at one time. This requirement applies only to Type I Facilities. (6) New facilities shall have a dayroom for each cell block or cluster of cells, which has a minimum of thirty-five (35) square feet of floor space per inmate. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES CHAPTER 1400-01 Existing facilities are not required to provide dayrooms. This requirement applies only to Type I Facilities. (7) Inmates, including those in medical housing units or infirmaries, shall have access to toilets and sinks with temperature-controlled hot and cold running water twenty-four (24) hours per day. All facilities shall provide operable toilets and sinks to inmates on a ratio of at least one (1) toilet and sink to every twelve (12) male inmates and one (1) toilet and sink for every eight (8) female inmates and one (1) toilet and sink accessible to occupants of any single- occupancy cell without their having to leave their cell. Urinals may be substituted for up to one-half of the toilets in male facilities. Inmates shall be able to use toilet facilities without staff assistance when they are confined in their cells/sleeping areas. All new facilities constructed after January 1, 2015 shall be required to provide an unbreakable toilet and sink in maximum security areas. This requirement applies only to Type I, II, and III Facilities. (8) Jails shall have at least one (1) operable shower for every sixteen (16) inmates, which shall be accessible to inmates without their having to leave their cell block. Workhouses shall have at least one (1) operable shower for every sixteen (16) inmates, which shall be accessible to inmates on a daily basis. This requirement applies only to Type I and II Facilities. (9) New facilities shall have at least one (1) single cell for the separation and control of problem inmate(s). The cell shall conform to the single-occupancy cell dimensions and shall have, at a minimum: (a) High security light fixture; (b) Unbreakable toilet and sink with control valve located outside the cell; (c) Forced air ventilation; and (d) Concrete bed, a minimum of twelve (12) inches off of the floor and no higher than sixteen (16) inches off of the floor, with rounded edges. The cell shall contain no structural projections or furnishings that would allow the inmate to harm himself/herself. The cell shall be located to allow continuous monitoring by detention officers. These requirements apply only to Type I, II, and III Facilities. (10) (a) All facilities shall have at least one (1) special purpose cell for males and one (1) special purpose cell for females to provide for the temporary detention of persons under the influence of intoxicants. The special purpose or temporary holding cells shall conform to multiple-occupancy cell dimensions and capacity. These cells shall have, at minimum: 1. Flushable drain or unbreakable toilet and sink; 2. High security light fixture; 3. Forced air ventilation; and MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES CHAPTER 1400-01 4. No structural projections. (b) New facilities shall also provide a concrete bed in the special purpose cell, a minimum of twelve (12) inches off of the floor and no higher than sixteen (16) inches off of the floor with rounded edges. (c) In new facilities, this cell shall be located so as to allow continuous monitoring by detention officers. (d) The requirement for one (1) special purpose cell applies only to facilities that have construction plans reviewed and approved by the Tennessee Corrections Institute after June 1, 2000. The requirement for two (2) special purpose cells applies to plans reviewed and approved after January 1, 2015. (11) New facilities shall provide space inside the security perimeter, separate from inmate living areas and administrative offices, for inmate processing as inmates are received and discharged from the facility. This space shall have the following components: (a) Pedestrian and/or vehicle sally port; (b) Telephone facilities for inmate use; (c) Temporary holding rooms which have fixed benches to seat inmates; and (d) A shower, toilet and sink. Existing facilities shall provide space where inmates are received, searched, showered, and issued clothing (if provided by the facility) prior to assignment to the living quarters. These requirements apply only to Type I and II Facilities. (12) Provisions shall be made for a visiting area which shall allow each inmate at least one (1) hour of visitation each week. This requirement applies only to Type I Facilities. (13) Provisions shall be made for a private interview room for the use of attorneys and for interrogation of inmates by law enforcement agencies. This requirement applies only to Type I, II, and III Facilities. (14) New facilities shall have at least one (1) multi-purpose room for conducting programs and for inmate exercise. This requirement applies only to Type I Facilities. (15) New facilities shall provide a secure outdoor recreation area with dimensions of at least nine hundred (900) square feet. Covered/enclosed exercise areas in facilities where less than one hundred (100) inmates utilize one recreation area shall have fifteen (15) square feet per inmate for the maximum number of inmates expected to use the space at one time, but not less than five hundred (500) square feet of unencumbered space. This requirement applies only to Type I Facilities. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES CHAPTER 1400-01 (16) Facilities shall have space where a physician may conduct sick call, examine patients in privacy and render routine medical treatment. This requirement applies only to Types I, II, and III Facilities. (17) Facilities shall have a secure control center, manned twenty-four (24) hours per day, through which telephone and other communications are channeled. The location of the control center shall provide good visibility or be equipped with a monitoring device. The control center shall monitor the operation of various systems, including fire alarm, smoke and thermal detection, public address, radio and other mechanical and electrical systems as warranted. This requirement applies only to Type I, II, and III Facilities. (18) Access to potable water shall be located in all housing areas. In existing facilities, if the water from sinks is potable, drinking cups must be made available. This requirement applies only to Type I, II, and III Facilities. (19) Facilities shall have an emergency power source of sufficient capacity to operate security and evacuation electrical devices and equipment and to provide minimum lighting within the facility and its perimeter at times of power failure. The power source shall be checked for functional readiness quarterly and the dates logged. (20) Facilities shall be constructed with correctional security grade walls, ceilings, floors, doors, locks, windows and glass glazing throughout the security perimeter and inmate housing or holding units. Facilities shall provide that any electric locks have the capability for manual operation. (21) Facilities shall have exit signs at each exit which are distinctly marked and continuously illuminated. Exits shall be kept clear and in usable condition to insure the timely evacuation of inmates and staff in the event of fire or other emergency. This requirement applies only to Type I, II, and III Facilities. (22) Facilities shall have documentation of compliance with applicable sanitation and fire safety standards. This requirement applies only to Type I, II, and III Facilities. (23) All kitchens, dining rooms, multiple toilet areas and corridors shall contain operable floor drains. This requirement applies only to Type I, II, and III Facilities. (24) Facilities shall have cells to accommodate the facility's classification plan. Facilities that house males and females, and juveniles and adults shall have provisions to separate accordingly. Such provisions shall not allow physical contact or sight and sound communication. Provisions shall also be made to separate minimum, medium, and maximum security inmates. (25) Plans for any new facility to be built and for any existing facility to be renovated shall be in compliance with minimum standards recorded herein and be submitted to the Tennessee Corrections Institute for review and the State Fire Marshal's Office for review and approval pursuant to Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-03. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES CHAPTER 1400-01 Plans for the construction of any new facility and the renovation of any existing facility shall state whether the facility’s function will be for temporary holding or for permanent confinement of inmates. The facility’s primary function may encompass both of these functions. A plan for operating the facility shall be developed in the initial stages of planning the facility so that the facility can be designed around the operating plan, rather than the reverse. This approach will contribute to the simplification of design and effective use of operating controls. (26) Any temporary inmate housing shall meet all standards for existing facilities. Temporary housing for inmates shall not be in use for more than eighteen (18) months unless an extension is approved by the Tennessee Corrections Institute Board of Control. This requirement applies only to Type I, II, and III Facilities.