201—50.1(356,356A) Definitions. The following are defined terms:
“Activity area” means such area, distinct from the living unit, where prisoners may congregate for programming. This area is to be under constant staff observation.
“Alternative jail facility” means a facility designated pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 356A, and which is used as a halfway-house-type facility rather than a jail-type operation. These facilities shall be subject to inspection and accreditation by the state jail inspector utilizing applicable administrative rules for residential facilities pursuant to 201—Chapter 43 and other acceptable operational standards.
“Average daily population” means the average number of prisoners housed daily during any given time period.
“Barrier free” means no walls or other obstructions impeding contact by staff within their assigned area of operation.
“Capacity” means the number of prisoner occupants which any cell, room, unit, building, facility or combination thereof may accommodate according to the square footage and fixture requirements of the standards.
“Cell” means prisoner occupancy bedroom space with toilet and lavatory facilities.
“Cellblock” means a group of cells with an associated dayroom.
“Classification” means a system of obtaining pertinent information concerning prisoners with which to make a decision on assignment of appropriate housing, security level, and activities.
“Continuous visual observation” means uninterrupted visual contact unaided by closed circuit television (CCTV).
“Dayroom” means a common space shared by prisoners residing in a cell or group of cells, to which prisoners are admitted for activities such as dining, bathing, or passive recreation and which are situated immediately adjacent to prisoner sleeping areas.
“Detention area” means that portion of the facility used to confine prisoners.
“Direct supervision jail” means a style of jail construction designed to facilitate direct contact between officers and prisoners. The officer is stationed inside the housing unit. Evaluation and classification of prisoners are ongoing and continuous functions of a direct supervision jail and are based on close contact with prisoners.
“Disability” means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of an individual; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment.
“DOC” means the Iowa department of corrections.
“Dormitory” means an open area for two or more prisoners with all fixtures self-contained. There is no barrier between the sleeping area and other fixtures such as shower, table, recreation equipment, or similar items.
“Emergency situation” means any significant disruption of normal operations caused by riot, strike, escape, fire, natural disaster or other serious incident.
“Evaluation” means an ongoing process whereby judgments are made concerning a prisoner based upon the behavior of that prisoner.
“Existing facility” means any place in use as a jail or for which bids have been let for construction prior to September 12, 2001.
“Holding cell” means a secure room or cell where prisoners may be held up to 24 hours while awaiting the procedure of commitment or release or court appearances.
“Holdover” means a nonsecure area within a law enforcement facility, hospital, mental health facility or other existing public building that is intended to serve as a short-term holding facility for juveniles. A nonsecure area may be a multipurpose area which is unable to be locked.
“Housing unit” means a detention area. This area may be a single occupancy cell, multiple occupancy cell, cellblock, or dormitory.
“Inspection unit” means the state jail inspection unit.
“Jail” means any place administered by the county sheriff and designed to hold prisoners for as long as lawfully required but not to exceed one year pursuant to Iowa Code chapters 356 and 356A.
“Jail administrator” means the sheriff, sheriff’s designee, or the executive head of any agency operating a jail. The jail administrator shall be responsible for the operation of the facility according to these rules.
“Jailer” means any person who is involved in the booking or supervision of prisoners, who has direct contact with prisoners or who has control over the movement or release of prisoners within the jail. Jailers shall meet the requirements of rules 201—50.10(356,356A) and 50.11(356,356A), Iowa Administrative Code.
“Jail inspector” means the department of corrections employee responsible for inspections of jails and enforcement of these rules by authority of Iowa Code section 356.43.
“Jail supervisor” means any person who is responsible for the routine operation of a jail during assigned duty hours. While this person does not have to be on the premises at all times, the person must be readily available for consultation.
“Juvenile” means any person under the age of 18 years.
“Living unit” means an area within a housing unit and that contains individual sleeping compartments, dayrooms, all necessary personal hygiene fixtures, and sufficient tables and seats to accommodate capacity.
“Lock down” means whenever prisoners are required to be in their individual cells or locked in same.
“Mail” means anything that is sent to or by prisoners through the United States Postal Service.
“Major remodeling” means construction that changes the architectural design of an existing jail and that increases or decreases capacity.
“Medical practitioner” means a licensed physician, licensed osteopathic physician or physician assistant or medical resources such as a hospital or clinic.
“Mental illness” means a psychiatric illness or disease expressed primarily through abnormalities of thought, feeling, and behavior producing either distress or impaired function.
“Minister” means a trained person ordained or licensed by a bona fide religion to conduct the services of that faith.
“Monitoring” means having a reasonable degree of knowledge or awareness of what activities a prisoner is engaged in during incarceration.
“Multiple occupancy cell” means a cell designed for more than one prisoner and accessible to a dayroom.
“Nonsecure hold” means a nonsecure area within a law enforcement facility and which is intended to serve as a short-term holding facility for juveniles. A nonsecure area may be a multipurpose area which is unable to be locked.
“Person performing jail duties” means all persons directly involved in the provision of services to prisoners or the operation of a jail except:
	1.	Outside contractors performing specific housekeeping functions under the direct supervision of a jailer.
	2.	Individuals such as maintenance personnel, cooks, and janitors, if they do not have direct contact with prisoners or routine access to areas occupied by prisoners.
“Physical jeopardy” means, due to the prisoner’s physical or mental condition, the prisoner is in peril of serious physical harm.
“Pod” means a grouping of two or more housing units, usually found in large facilities, which will aid in the control of prisoners.
“Prisoner” means any individual confined in a jail.
“Residential facilities” means the facilities governed by 201—Chapter 43.
“Roving supervising officer” means an officer who provides direct supervision of prisoners by continuously moving through the housing unit, cells, and activity area of the unit.
“Segregation cell” means a single occupancy cell equipped with tamper-resistant bunks, a toilet, and a wash basin which are of the type recommended for maximum security housing.
“Unencumbered space” is floor space that is not encumbered by furnishings or fixtures. Unencumbered space is determined by subtracting the floor area encumbered by furnishings and fixtures from the total floor area. (All fixtures must be in operational position for these calculations.)
“Waiver” means a waiver of a specific standard granted by the Iowa department of corrections in accordance with 201—Chapter 7.
“Weapons” means any instrument, excluding restraining devices, chemical control agents and electronic control devices, with an intended use of self-defense, protection of another, or to gain or maintain compliance from an individual.
[ARC 9578B, IAB 6/29/11, effective 8/3/11; ARC 5538C, IAB 3/24/21, effective 4/28/21]