North Carolina Administrative Code

10A NCAC 14J .1512 LIGHTING AND VENTILATION (a) Lighting fixtures in sleeping rooms and dayrooms shall provide at least 30 footcandles of artificial light, and they shall have diffusers designed to illuminate a horizontal area from a ceiling or wall position. (b) Artificial light…

10A NCAC 14J .1513 WALLS Walls and partitions shall be made of either reinforced concrete or masonry or the following materials: (1) Steel grating of either tool-resisting steel or open hearth steel as specified in the plans: (a) Tool-resisting steel grating shall meet the follow…

10A NCAC 14J .1514 SLIDING DOORS (a) Sliding doors shall be made of the same weight and quality of grating or plate as the confinement area fronts or wall in which they are installed. (b) Sliding doors shall be approximately two feet x six feet, three inches, and shall be hung fr…

10A NCAC 14J .1515 SWINGING DOORS (a) Plate doors installed in plate walls shall be made of steel that is at least the same quality and thickness as specified for the wall in which the door opening is installed. (b) Plate doors installed in concrete or masonry walls shall be made…

10A NCAC 14J .1516 ACCESS DOORS AND PANELS (a) Swinging access doors to pipe and utility spaces shall be at least one foot, eight inches x four feet in size and made of 3/16 inch steel plate. (b) Removable access panels shall be made of 3/16 inch open-hearth steel plate and shall…

10A NCAC 14J .1517 PRISON KEY-OPERATED LOCKS (a) Locking swinging doors shall use prison deadlocks with heavy multiple tumblers. The lock mechanism shall be housed in a lock case made of forged steel not less than 5-1/2 inches x 1-3/8 inches in size. (b) Manually-operated sliding…

10A NCAC 14J .1518 HINGES Swinging doors shall be hung on hinges designed for jail use. History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-220; 153A-221; Eff. June 1, 1990; Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 5, 2016.

10A NCAC 14J .1519 OBSERVATION AND SPEAKING PANELS (a) Observation and speaking panels shall be mounted in plate or masonry walls where shown on plans, and they shall be designed to prevent the passage of contraband. (b) Observation and speaking panels shall be made either of pol…

10A NCAC 14J .1520 FOOD PASSES (a) The food pass in plate walls shall be approximately 12 inches wide x 4-1/2 inches high. Hinged food pass shutters shall be about 13 inches wide and six inches high and they shall be made of 3/16 inch open-hearth steel plate. The shutter shall fo…

10A NCAC 14J .1521 MIRRORS (a) Mirrors shall be approximately 8 inches x 9-1/2 inches in size when provided. (b) Mirrors shall be highly polished stainless steel or chrome plated steel, and they shall be attached securely to the wall. History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-220; 153A-2…

10A NCAC 14J .1522 BUNKS (a) Bunks shall be six feet, three inches long and not less than two feet, one inch nor more than two feet, three inches wide. (b) The bottoms of bunks shall be 16-gauge sheet steel perforated with one inch to two inch holes for ventilation. (c) Bunks sha…

10A NCAC 14J .1523 TABLES, BENCHES AND SEATS (a) One-piece bench and table units shall be installed as shown on the plans, and they shall be welded securely to an adjacent steel wall and anchored securely to the floor. (b) The tops of tables and benches shall be made of at least …

10A NCAC 14J .1524 SHOWER STALLS (a) The dimensions of showers shall be at least 30 inches x 30 inches x 7 feet. (b) Shower stalls shall be constructed of either concrete, masonry, at least 1/8 inch galvanized steel plate, heavy gauge aluminum plate, or heavy gauge stainless stee…

10A NCAC 14J .1525 REMOTE CONTROL LOCKING MECHANISMS (a) Remote control locking and operating mechanisms for fully selective sliding doors shall be electric, electrical-mechanical, mechanical, or gang locking. (b) Remote control locking mechanisms shall be designed and manufactur…

10A NCAC 14J .1526 MATERIAL TESTS (a) Tool-resisting materials that are included in jail equipment shall withstand the following tests: (1) A load test of not less than 6,000 lbs. applied at the midpoint of heat-treated 7/8 inch or one inch diameter double-ribbed round tool-resis…

10A NCAC 14J .1527 PROTECTION EQUIPMENT FOR ELECTRICAL LIGHTS (a) Each facility shall adequately protect electric lights in cells from damage by inmates. (b) Fittings shall be either covered with 3/8 inch tempered lenses for diffusing light or protected with steel wire. (c) Steel…

10A NCAC 14J .1528 DOOR PULLS (a) Swinging plate security doors shall have at least six inch loop pulls of polished aluminum alloy, polished bronze or chrome plated bronze. (b) Door pulls shall be secured to doors by security-type patch head screws, spanner screws, or hexagon nut…

10A NCAC 14J .1529 WIRE WINDOW GUARDS (a) Wire window guards shall cover windows as called for in the plans. (b) Window guards shall be made of 11-gauge steel mesh, woven three mesh to the inch, and they shall be framed with flat steel bars. (c) Hinges, padlocks, hasps, and stapl…

10A NCAC 14J .1530 SECURITY SCREENS Security screens shall be installed as indicated on the construction plans, and they shall be made of steel, stainless steel, or extruded aluminum. History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-220; 153A-221; Eff. June 1, 1990; Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A,…

10A NCAC 14J .1531 INSECT SCREENS AND DOORS Insect screens and doors shall be provided as indicated on the plans, and they shall be made of extruded aluminum, stainless steel, bronze, or steel. History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-220; 153A-221; Eff. June 1, 1990; Pursuant to G.S. 1…

10A NCAC 14J .1532 KEY CABINET (a) A secure key cabinet shall be provided as shown on the plans, and it shall be made of not less than 10-gauge open-hearth steel plate. (b) The door to the key cabinet shall be hung securely on two steel pin hinges and locked with a heavy multiple…

10A NCAC 14J .1533 PLUMBING All plumbing shall be in accordance with the North Carolina State Plumbing Code and the approved plans in effect at time of construction. History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-220; 153A-221; Eff. June 1, 1990; Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary…

10A NCAC 14J .1534 PLUMBING FIXTURES (a) Plumbing fixtures shall be furnished and installed as specified on the approved plans. (b) The plumbing construction shall withstand damage attempted without tools, and the plumbing materials shall offer maximum resistance to wear while pr…

10A NCAC 14J .1535 FLOOR DRAINS Floor drains that are accessible to inmates shall be fitted with tamper-resistant covers. History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-220; 153A-221; Eff. June 1, 1990; Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. Ja…

10A NCAC 14J .1536 GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION (a) All steel equipment, except tool-resisting bars embedded in concrete floors and other such parts that are enameled or plated, shall have a prime coat applied in the fabricating shop. (b) Paint shall be of …

SECTION .1600 - CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR EXISTING STATE-FUNDED SATELLITE JAIL/WORK RELEASE UNITS 10A NCAC 14J .1601 APPLICABILITY Existing state-funded satellite jail/work release units shall continue to be governed by the existing construction standards which are now in this S…

10A NCAC 14J .1602 CONFINEMENT UNIT Each satellite jail/work release unit shall include: (1) No more than 24 inmates per sleeping area; (2) No less than 35 square feet per inmate devoted to sleeping area only; (3) One shower per 10 inmates, one water closet per six inmates, one s…

10A NCAC 14J .1603 PROGRAMMING AREAS Each satellite jail/work release unit, when located in a separate facility from a maximum confinement unit shall have: (1) A general visitation area with: (a) a public entrance to the facility; (b) an entry located to permit direct observation…

10A NCAC 14J .1604 ADMINISTRATION AREA Each satellite jail/work release unit shall have an administrative area which shall provide: (1) adequate space for administrative offices accessible to the public; (2) clerical support areas; (3) record storage areas; (4) space for informat…

10A NCAC 14J .1605 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS FOR SATELLITE JAIL/WORK RELEASE UNITS Traditional building materials may be used where safety will not be jeopardized, taking into consideration the type and level of security described in the operations program developed by the local aut…

10A NCAC 14J .1606 MECHANICAL SYSTEMS Mechanical systems shall: (1) Provide heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to meet the requirements of the N.C. Building Code; (2) Have master controls for electrical, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning, that are inaccessible to in…

10A NCAC 14J .1607 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS In addition to the rules in this Section, the minimum secure unit shall be designed to: (1) allow access for emergency equipment (e.g., fire hoses, stretchers) provided at appropriate entrances; (2) have auxiliary power and emergency lighti…

SECTION .1700 - MUNICIPAL LOCKUPS 10A NCAC 14J .1701 DEFINITIONS The following definitions shall apply in 10A NCAC 14J .1700: (1) "Addition" is an extension or increase in floor area or height of a building or structure. (2) "Alteration" is any change or modification in construct…

10A NCAC 14J .1702 APPLICABILITY - CONSTRUCTION (a) New Municipal Lockups - The construction standards established in this Section shall apply to all municipal lockup construction for which the final working drawings are approved by the Branch after the effective date of this Rul…

10A NCAC 14J .1703 REQUIREMENT FOR OPERATIONS MANUAL Within 12 months after the effective date of this Rule, the chief of police or his designee responsible for operating the municipal lockup shall develop written policies and procedures that describe how the lockup will be opera…

10A NCAC 14J .1704 PURPOSE OF OPERATIONS MANUAL The purpose of the operations manual is to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the municipal lockup, and therefore it shall be detailed enough to guide officers in completing their assigned duties. The operations manual sha…

10A NCAC 14J .1705 CONTENTS OF OPERATIONS MANUAL (a) The operations manual shall include written policies and procedures that address the following areas: (1) administration and management; (2) admissions, transportation and release; (3) classification; (4) security and supervisi…

10A NCAC 14J .1706 REVIEW OF MANUAL The operations manual shall be reviewed and updated at least once each year by the police chief. History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-221; Eff. June 1, 1990; Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. J…

10A NCAC 14J .1707 CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM Each municipal lockup shall have a written classification procedure for the placement and housing of inmates. Within the limitations imposed by the design and capacity of the lockup, the procedure shall assign inmates to confinement units …

10A NCAC 14J .1708 FEMALE INMATES Male and female inmates shall not be placed in the same confinement unit, dayroom or other living area and, in addition, female inmates shall be housed out of sight of male inmates. History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-221; Eff. June 1, 1990; Amende…

10A NCAC 14J .1709 CONFINEMENT OF MALES UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE Male inmates under 18 years of age shall be confined in separate cells from adult inmates during sleeping hours. History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-221; Eff. June 1, 1990; Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary …

10A NCAC 14J .1710 DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING ASSIGNMENTS Housing assignments shall not be made on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, or political belief. History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-221; Eff. June 1, 1990; Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary withou…

10A NCAC 14J .1711 EXITS Each municipal lockup shall have readily accessible emergency exits in compliance with the North Carolina State Building Code in order to permit the prompt evacuation of inmates and staff during an emergency. Egress doors in jails which are classified as …

10A NCAC 14J .1712 FIRE EQUIPMENT Each municipal lockup shall provide the following emergency fire equipment: (1) fire extinguishers that meet all of the requirements in National Fire Prevention Association pamphlet number 10 which is hereby adopted by reference pursuant to G.S. …

10A NCAC 14J .1713 FIRE PLAN (a) Each municipal lockup shall have a written plan for the evacuation and control of inmates in the event of a fire. The plan shall include at least quarterly fire drills, and records shall be made of the fire drills and retained. The actual movement…

10A NCAC 14J .1714 MATTRESSES Mattresses shall be of fire resistive and nontoxic construction. History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-221; Eff. June 1, 1990; Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 5, 2016.

10A NCAC 14J .1715 KEYS Each municipal lockup shall have a key control system that includes the following elements: (1) a key control center that is secure and inaccessible to unauthorized persons at all times; (2) a set of duplicate keys to be stored in a safe place that is inac…

10A NCAC 14J .1716 GENERAL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS Each municipal lockup shall meet the following security requirements: (1) provide for the secure confinement of inmates from the time of their passage through the security perimeter until release; (2) prevent the passage of contrab…

10A NCAC 14J .1717 SUPERVISION (a) Officers shall make supervision rounds and directly observe each inmate in person at least twice per hour on an irregular basis. The supervision rounds shall be documented. If remote electronic monitoring is used to supplement supervision, it sh…

10A NCAC 14J .1718 SANITATION AND TOILETS Each municipal lockup shall comply with the North Carolina Commission for Public Health rules governing sanitation as codified in Title 15A Chapter 18A Section .1500 and which are hereby adopted incorporated by reference, including subseq…