5-06-010 Inmate Meals: Approved by CSS on 04/04/2025

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

PURPOSE OF ORDER:

The purpose of this order is to establish procedures related to inmate meals at the Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF).

SCOPE OF ORDER:

This order shall apply to all personnel who are assigned to and/or working in any capacity at the CRDF.

ORDER:

Inmate meals shall be served three times during each 24-hour period.  At least one of these meals shall include a hot meal.  If more than 14 hours has elapsed between these meals, supplemental food shall be provided. 

A minimum of 15 minutes shall be allowed for the actual consumption of each meal except for those inmates on medical diets where the responsible physician has prescribed additional time.  If the inmate misses a regularly scheduled facility meal, they shall be provided with a sandwich and beverage in lieu of that meal. 

Food Services Unit (FSU) personnel will obtain a current inmate count for each module and area from kitchen custody personnel, two hours prior to the meal.  Kitchen custody personnel shall announce via the county-issued handheld radio when the food carts are available for pickup.  Rover deputies shall supervise the inmate workers during the transportation of the flatbed food carts from the kitchen to the housing areas.  Prior to leaving the kitchen, the rovers shall ensure all items for the meal are on the food carts by verifying the items against the menu that is to be taped to each food cart.  Any discrepancy shall be immediately reported to the kitchen deputy.  If any menu item discrepancies arise, personnel shall immediately consult with custody personnel assigned to the kitchen area.  Food carts shall be delivered to housing area sally ports by the inmate workers under the supervision of custody personnel.

For additional information regarding transportation of food, inmate meal consumption, and inmate conduct during meals refer to Custody Division Manual (CDM) section 5-13/010.00, “Inmate Meals.”

For information pertaining to facility written food service plan and frequency of servings, refer to the California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 15, sections 1243, “Food Service Plan, and 1240, “Frequency of Servings.”

Serving Procedures

Module personnel shall supervise inmate workers preparing for the service of hot meals to ensure compliance with the FSU, “Bulk Feeding and Inmate Hygiene Rules” video. This information shall be documented in the electronic Uniform Daily Activity Log (e-UDAL) in the “Additional Information” section.  For example: “Deputy_____ observed the inmate workers adhere to the Bulk Feeding and Inmate Hygiene Rules.” 

All inmate workers handling food shall be required to wear hair nets to contain loose hair and help prevent the contamination of food.  They shall wash their hands, including their forearms, with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds.  All food handlers shall wear gloves when serving food.

When providing meals to inmates located inside of their respective cells, module personnel may allow inmate workers to assist in delivering the food to inmates inside their cells; however, food shall NOT be placed on the floor.  Module personnel shall open each cell door as the inmate worker approaches the cell to help deliver the food.

Inmates prescribed therapeutic/special diets shall receive their meals in a timely manner.  If the special diet has been delivered to the incorrect module, it is the responsibility of module personnel to have the meal delivered expeditiously to the inmate’s current housing location. 

• Food containers shall be arranged lengthwise on the serving tables to allow the trays to be slid down the table.
• The tables shall be cleaned with disposable paper towels and disinfectant cleaner before and after each use.
• The proper serving utensils shall be utilized for each food item.
• The portions indicated on the menu shall not be deviated from.
• Food containers shall be kept covered until meals are served.
• At the time of service, hot food should be served at or above 140 degrees Fahrenheit and cold food at or below 41 degrees Fahrenheit, to limit the growth of bacteria.  The temperature shall be recorded in the e-UDAL.
• In order to prevent heat loss, food containers should not be stirred.
• Hot food is to be served first and cold food will be served last.
• Inmate workers who are part of the food service shall be served last
• Food containers shall never be placed on the floor.
• Food shall be served only under the immediate supervision of custody personnel.
• Inmates shall be allowed to converse in a moderate tone during meals with other inmates at the same table.

NOTE:  Custody personnel assigned to the kitchen area shall ensure all kitchen inmate workers review the bulk feeding and hygiene video provided by FSU personnel.  Kitchen custody personnel shall ensure each inmate signs a roster after reviewing the videos.  The rosters shall be submitted to the operations deputy who will retain the records in compliance with CDM section 4-13/000.00, “Retention of Records.”

For additional information pertaining to establishing and maintaining health standards, the assignment of inmates in all phases of food handling and food serving supervision, refer to CDM section 5-11/040.00, “Food Handling,” and CCR Title 15, sections 1246, “Food Serving and Supervision,” and 1230, “Food Handlers.”

Direct Supervision Modules

Direct supervision modules may serve day room sleepers first, followed by each tier, to allow for sufficient tables and seating for each inmate receiving meals, per Title 15 regulations.  At no time shall any food tray or container be placed on the floor.  This includes sandwiches and beverage crates.

Special Population Modules                                                            

Inmates housed in special population modules (e.g., HOH, discipline, etc.) who consume meals inside their cell, shall have their trash removed at least two times per day.

• AM shift personnel shall remove all trash accumulated during breakfast and lunch.
• PM shift personnel shall remove all trash after dinner has been consumed.

Custody personnel shall approach each cell door and instruct the inmate to discard their trash.  If an inmate refuses, and after several attempts made by custody personnel to retrieve the trash is unsuccessful, module personnel shall notify the tower supervising line deputy.  A plan shall be formulated to retrieve the trash. 

Court Line Meals

Food carts shall be delivered to the housing modules for court line meals at 0400 hours. Inmates returning from court after 1800 hours (“late court returnees”) shall be provided a hot meal.  The CRDF Inmate Reception Center (IRC) shall be responsible for distributing hot meals to all late court returnees as follows:

• At 1750 hours, Reception Center personnel shall obtain cambros containing burritos, and crates of juice from kitchen personnel.
• Prior to serving food, personnel shall ensure inmate workers assigned as food handlers have been medically cleared and have complied with appropriate hygiene procedures.
• Beginning at 1800 hours, food shall be served to all late court returnees.  They shall receive two burritos and one carton of juice. 
• Inmates prescribed therapeutic/special diets shall receive their meals after notifying custody staff.  The floor rover is responsible for requesting the inmate’s meal from the kitchen supervisor.
• Once all late court returnees have received their meals, inmate workers will clean all equipment as well as the serving area.
• Reception Center personnel on early morning shift shall return all equipment and remaining food to the kitchen.

CRDF Inmate Reception Center (IRC)

The IRC shall maintain a supply of sandwiches and juice throughout the day for inmates being processed during breakfast and lunch.  The processing custody assistant shall call the kitchen supervisor to replenish food supplies as needed. 

Booking Center

Inmate workers assigned to the booking area, or a module where male inmates are temporarily housed, may serve meals through the tray slots and under the direct supervision of custody staff.  At no time shall inmate workers be left unsupervised.

[REDACTED TEXT]

[REDACTED TEXT] is an extension of the CRDF IRC and is designed to house inmates on a temporary basis; however, inmates are often housed longer than a 24-hour period due to the extensive healthcare and mental health assessments that are required.  As a result, a hot meal at dinner time shall be served.

Inmate Worker Meals

Inmate workers working the early morning shift in the kitchen area shall be fed breakfast at 0300 hours.  Inmate workers at their work assignments shall be allowed to return to their housing area for meal service.  Inmate workers who are not able to return to their housing area shall be provided a meal and beverage by their work location officer.

Special Diets

FSU personnel shall prepare all medical diets as requested by Correctional Health Services (CHS) personnel.  Only the attending physician shall prescribe a medical diet.  Inmates returning from court shall be provided their medical diet upon their return.  Custody staff shall provide the kitchen supervisor with the inmate’s name and booking number and request the inmate’s medical diet.  Medical diets shall be delivered to the inmate while regular inmate meals are served.  Inmate workers shall not rummage through medical diet plates for preferred food items.

Inmates prescribed medical diets shall receive their meals in a timely manner.  If the medical diet has been delivered to the incorrect module, it is the responsibility of module personnel to have the meal delivered expeditiously to the inmate’s correct housing location. 

Religious Diets and Lifestyle Diets

The Office of Religious and Volunteer Services (RVS) is responsible for approving diets for inmates who request accommodation due to religious beliefs. 

FSU is responsible for providing all approved religious diets.

If an inmate is arrested on the weekend or holiday and requires a religious diet, the chaplain shall notify the watch commander who shall order the religious diet from the FSU.  The chaplain should notify RVS of the request on the next business day.

• Should an inmate receiving a religious diet become involved in disciplinary action, normal disciplinary procedures shall be adhered to.
• If a medical diet is prescribed for an inmate, it shall take precedence over the religious diet. 
• An inmate’s religious diet may be terminated at any time by the inmate with a signed waiver form.

Inmates requesting a lifestyle diet do not require a chaplain review.  FSU will ensure there are sufficient amounts of Kosher, Halal, vegetarian, and vegan meals readily available at intake areas for inmates requesting these items.

For additional information pertaining to medical, religious, and lifestyle diets refer to CDM section 5-13/010.00, “Special Diets,” and CCR Title 15, section 1248, “Medical Diets.”

Prenatal Diets/Special Diets/Water for Pregnant Inmates

When a pregnant inmate misses a special/prenatal diet meal because she changed housing locations, was delayed at court, in the hospital, or at another location, the module officer shall immediately contact kitchen personnel to locate the meal.  If the inmate was previously housed in another location, they shall contact the prior housing module to inquire if the meal was delivered to their location.  If the special/prenatal diet can be located, custody personnel shall be sent to retrieve it immediately.  Efforts to locate the special/prenatal diet shall be documented in the e-UDAL.  In circumstances where the special diet/prenatal diet is not available, custody personnel shall ensure the pregnant inmate receives a sufficient amount of food from standard inmate meals that are available (“double-ups”). 

NOTE:  For health reasons, pregnant inmates shall not knowingly be provided cold cut meats.  If custody personnel are made aware that a pregnant inmate has received cold cut meats as a part of their meal, custody personnel shall make arrangements to provide a suitable alternative to the pregnant inmate in lieu of the cold cut meats.

All pregnant inmates shall receive a minimum of six bottles of water on a daily basis.  With each meal, they shall receive the following allotments of water:

• Two (2) bottles of water with breakfast
• Two (2) bottles of water with lunch
• Two (2) bottles of water with dinner

The [REDACTED TEXT] liaison shall deliver a minimum of 2 cases of water, two (2) times per week, to each housing location that houses [REDACTED TEXT] inmates. 

NOTE:  Additional water bottles shall be provided to each [REDACTED TEXT] inmate upon request; there are no restrictions.

For additional information regarding policies and procedures pertaining to pregnant inmates, refer to CDM section 7-02/010.00, “Pregnant Inmates.”

Food Contamination

The senior cooks assigned to the kitchen keep a tray of every meal served to the inmates in a refrigerator for a period of 72 hours.  In the event of contaminated food or food poisoning, the tray shall be sent to a lab for examination.  In the event of food poisoning, the watch commander, medical personnel, and the senior cook in the kitchen shall be notified and shall complete the appropriate reports.

Kitchen facilities, sanitation, and food storage shall comply with standards set forth in Health and Safety Code.  For additional information, refer to CCR Title 15, section 1245, “Kitchen Facilities, Sanitation, and Food Storage.”

Return of Empty Food Carts and Dirty Tray Carts to the Kitchen

Inmate workers serving food shall rinse the serving utensils and return them to the module deputy.  The module deputy shall account for all serving utensils.  Empty food containers, food carts, utensils, and dirty trays shall be removed from the housing areas and returned to the kitchen as soon as possible after each meal by the floor rover, or their designee.  Kitchen custody personnel shall verify all utensils are accounted for.  Any discrepancy shall immediately be reported to the appropriate supervising line deputy and sergeant.

For additional information describing the acquisition, use of all food products, nutritional and caloric requirements, refer to CDM section 5-11/050.00, “Accountability for Food Items,” CCR Title 15, section 1242, “Menus,” and 1241, “Minimum Diet.”

Hunger Strike

In the event an inmate declares a hunger strike, the hunger strike shall be documented in the e-UDAL under “Additional Comments.”  The entry shall include the inmate’s name, booking number, the meal they refused (e.g., breakfast, lunch, dinner), and the reason behind their hunger strike, if provided.  Immediate notification to the tower sergeant, watch commander, the Access to Care Lieutenant, and Correctional Health Services (CHS) personnel shall be made.  Procedures delineated in CDM section 5-15/000.00, “Inmates Refusal to Eat and/or Drink” shall be adhered to.

NOTE:  Any inmate housed in mental health HOH who declares a hunger strike shall be brought to the attention of CHS personnel during the daily HOH meetings until the hunger strike has concluded.

REVISED 03/11/2025

REVISED 12/06/2021

REVISED 01/13/2020

REVISED 02/07/2019

REVISED 03/22/2018