•

oA

Detention and Removal Operations

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

425 I Street, NW
Washington, DC 20536

u.s. Immigration
.
and Customs
Enforcement

MEMORANDUM FOR:

John P. Torres
b6, b7c

FROM:

n Officer
Detention Standards Compliance Unit
SUBJECT:

South Texas Contract Detention Facility Annual Review

The Detention Standards Compliance Unit conducted the aI1llual headquarters detention review
of the South Texas Contract Detention Facility on April 10-12, 2007. The facility is operated
by Global Expertise in Outsourcing (GEO). Headquarters Staff Officer
b6, b7c
b6, b7c
eview and was assisted by team members
b6, b7c

Type of Review
This review is a scheduled Headquarters Review and was conducted to determine overall
compliance with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) National Detention
Standards.
Review Summary
The facility is not accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA), the National
Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) or the Joint Commission for Accreditation
of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
2006 Review
Acceptable
Deficient
Repeat Deficiency
At-Risk

30
3

5
0

2007 Review
Acceptable
Deficient
Repeat
At-Risk

38
0
0
0

www.ice.gov

SUBJECT: South Texas aract Detention Facility Annual Revie.
Page 2

Advisories
Access To Legal Materials
Due to an increase in the detainee population, the facility is in need of additional computers for
the law library. During the review, the facility submitted an action plan to order six additional
computers and monitors. Additionally, six portable carts were ordered. This will enable the
facility to utilize the computers within the dorms and in Administrative Segregation.
Correspondence and Other Mail
The receipt a detainee receives when currency or a money order is received via the mail
previously had only one signature. The advisory was corrected by obtaining two signatures
from the mail clerk and the witnessing officer.
Food Service
The assigned food service workers were observed wearing ICE issued shower sandals while
working in the kitchen. The facility corrected the advisory during the review. Detainees are
now required to wear their assigned rubber shoes over the ICE issued tennis shoes.
The facility did not have a good accountability of sporks (a combination plastic fork and spoon
issued to detainees) within food service. The facility corrected the advisory by assigning a
specific staff member on each shift to count and record all issued sporks.
Detainee Telephone Access
The facility did not previously provide notification to detainees that their phone calls could be
monitored. The facility corrected the advisory by posting a sign by the telephones in each
detainee living nnit stating that all phone calls were subject to monitoring.
Access To Medical Care
Public Health Services (PHS) currently has a total of 46 tot
h 19 vacancies. The
b6
Detention Management Division's (DMD) liaison for PHS
is currently working
with PHS headquarters to resolve this issue. At the present time, there is no information on
projected hires for these vacancies.
b6
PHS reviewer
noted that although the facility is currently meeting the standard of
Access to Medical Care at an acceptable level,
yees are being pulled to fill vacant
b6
positions throughout the medicaldepartOlent.
discovered that employees are
remaining beyond their assigned shift j ust to complete basic duties.

The ICE Cont:raGtingOfficers
l Representative (COTR) (b)(6), (b)(7)c Warden b6, b7c
and Health Care Administrator b6
explained that the facility cannot receive AC
accreditation until the facility is aceredited by JCAHO. This issue is in the process of being
addressed but has not been resolved.

SUBJECT: South Texas Aract Detention Facility Annual Revie.
Page 2

Areas of Best Practice
Environmental Health and Safety
The sanitation of the facility during the review was excellent. Cleaning schedules are followed
and detainees were observed continuously cleaning throughout the review.
ICE/ Contractor Working Relationship
The communication between ICE and the GEO Group appears to be excellent. The COTR and
Warden meet on a daily basis to discuss problems and work on solutions as a team. COTR
Sparks remains proactive in addressing possible/identified problems.
Staff Interaction
Warden b6, b7c and the staff at the South Texas Contract Detention Facility were extremely
professional and immediately retrieved requested information and corrected advisories once
identified. The staff appear to be well versed in policy and procedure and take pride in their
facility. The review team observed the facility operates in a calm and orderly fashion.

RIC Observations
StafflDetainee Communication
The staff/detainee communication appears to have improved since the 2006 review. ICE
officers are now required to visit the housing units at a minimum of two times per week. A
written report is generated by each individual officer and forwarded to the staf£'detainee
communication liaison for consolidation. The report is then forwarded to the COTR for final
review and possible follow-up.

Recommended Rating and Justification
It is the recommendation of the RIC that the facility receive a rating of "Acceptable." The
facility now fully complies with 38 of 38 standards. All deficiencies identified during the 2006
review have been addressed and corrected.

RIC Assurance Statement
Findings of compliance are documented on the G-324a inspection form and are fully supported
by documentation in the review file.
cc: Official File
b2High, b6, b7c

•

•

MANAGEMENT REVIEW

The signature below constitutes review of this report and acceptance by the Office of Detention and Removal. The Facility has 30
days from receipt of this report to respond to all findings and recommendations.
\
HQDRO MANAGEMENT REVIEW: (Print Name)

John P. Torres

/'

~1 )~

Date~

Title

Director
Final Rating:

,. \

Signature

0

.

~

tI01
I

SuperIor
Good
5?hAcceptable
Deficient
OAt-Risk

o
o

Comments:

Form G-324A (Rev. 8/\3/04) No Prior Version May Be Used After \0/\/04

•

•

Department Of Homeland Security
Immigration and Customs Enforcement

A. Type of Facility Reviewed
ICE Service Processing Center
D
ICE Contract Detention Facility
~
ICE Intergovernmental Service Agreement
D

Detention Facility Inspection Form
Facilities Used Over 72 hours

G. Accreditation Certificates
List all State or National Accreditation[s] received:
~ Check box if facility has no accreditation[s]

B. Current Inspection
H. Problems 1 Complaints (Copies must be attached)
The Facility is under Court Order or Class Action Finding
D Class Action Order
D Court Order
The Facility has Significant Litigation Pending
D Major Litigation
D Life/Safety Issues
. ...... ... .... .
!1:£!lCheckFfN(frre: .

Type of Inspection
D Field Office ~ HQ Inspection
Date[s] of Facility Review
April 10·12, 2007

....... ....

C. PreviouslMost Recent Facility Review

Date[s] of Last Facility Review
October 24-26, 2007
Previous Rating
D Superior D Good D Acceptable D Deficient ~ At-Risk

.

I. Facilitv Historv
Date Built
May 2005
Date Last Remodeled or Upgraded

D. Name and Location of Facility

N/A

Name

Date New Construction 1 Bedspace Added
January 2007
Future Construction Plarmed
DYes ~No Date:
Current Bedspace
I Future Bedspace (# New Beds only)
1904
Number:
Date:

South Texas Detention Complex
Address (Street and Name)
566 Veterans Drive
City, State and Zip Code

Pearsall, Texas 78061
County
Frio
Name and Title or Chief Executive Officer (Warden/OIC/Superintendent)
b6, b7c

Facility Administrator

Telephone # (Include Area Code)
(830) b6, b7c
Field Office I Sub-Office (List Office with oversight responsibilities)
San Antonio
Distance from Field Office

J. Total Facility Population
Total Facility Intake for previous 12 months
22,281
Total ICE Mandays for Previous 12 months
500,322 (April 06- March 07)

60 Miles

ICE Information
inspector (Last Name, Title and Duty Station)
b6, b7c 1 DDO 1 Washington DC
Name of Team Member 1 Title 1 Duty Location
b6
1 PHS 1 Houston, Texas
Name of Team Member 1 Title 1 Duty Location
b6, b7c 1 DO 1Houston, Texas
Name of Team Member 1 Title 1 Duty Location
b6, b7c 1 lEA 1 EI Paso, Texas

(ICE SPCs and CDFs Onl
L-1
L-2
L-3
1239
94
72
339
11
8

E

F CDFIIGSA I nf ormatJOD 0 my
I
Contract Number
Date of Contract orIGSA
January 23, 2004
ACD-4-C-OOO I
Basic Rates per Man-Day
$94.58
Other Charges: (If None, Indicate N/A)
;
;
Estimated Man-days Per Year
228,125

I

Adult Female

L. Facility Ca aeitv
Rated
ODerational
Emer!!encv
Adult Male
1450
Adult Female
388
D Facility holds Juveniles Offenders 16 and older as Adults
M.... A~er~gen~ily Population
-- - ----- ,=,,-=-;ICE
I AdultMale
929.58
I Adult Female
324.67
~-

USMS

Otber

N. Facility Staffing Level
b2High

Form G-324A (Rev. 8/13/04) No Prior Version May Be Used After 1011104

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•

Significant Incident Summary Worksheet
For ICE to complete its review of your facility, the following information must be completed prior to the scheduled review dates. The
information on this form should contain data for the past twelve months in the boxes provided. The information on this form is used
in conjunction with the ICE Detention Standards in assessing your Detention Operations against the needs of the ICE and its detained
population. This form should be filled out by the facility prior to the start of any inspection. Failure to complete this section will
result in a delay in processing this report and the possible reduction or removal ofICE' detainees at your facility.

., D"

Types,

Assault:
Offenders on
Offenders I

Jul- Sept
Physical

Oct-Dec
Physical, Sexual

0

0

4

2

1

0

16

30

etc.)

..,

Types (Sexual m~'. , etc.)

,,)

.

")'

0

0

1

0

2

2

2

0

1

0

2

0

0

2

1

0

0

4

1

5

1

1

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

10

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

With
Without we. )on

:~~~~:~::~~~~~~~~~s,
Disturbances4

":;~~~;'Js~~ IIno'
rHo • of Times

Apr-Jun
Physical

With

Assault:
Detainee on
Staff

I

~',

Jan-Mar
Physical

~

~
~

_:

Special

l>,

'1),ed

_ 1
, ,~

"
# Times FourlFive Point
Restraints applied/used

, L

!,~e_(C=<?h~ir,~B.=B,ed.

_~'_=M.'~' _
as a result of

injuries

.

.

•

Escapes

Actual
Grievances:
# Received
I in favor of
#
n,

Deaths

, ReasonC

',,",<m,

Suicide,

Psychiatric I Melllcal
Referrals

1#
I

. : ~:;:ses referred for

#. ;:,;

.. Cases referred for

n" .. :A~ Care

Any attempted physical contact or physicaJ contact that involves two or more offenders
Ora], ana] or vaginal penetration or attempted penetration involving at least 2 parties, whether it is consenting or non-consenting
Routine transportation of detainees/offenders is not considered ''forced''
Any incident that involves four or more detainees/offenders, includes gang fights, organized multiple hunger strikes, work stoppages, hostage situations,
major fires, or other large scale incidents.

Form G-324A (Rev. 8/13/04) No Prior Version May Be Used After 10/1104

•

•

I.
2.
3.
4.

Access to Legal Materials
Group Presentations on Legal Rights
Visitation
Access

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
II.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.

Admission and Release
Classification System
Correspondence and Other Mail
Detainee Handbook
Food Service
Funds and Personal Property
Detainee Grievance Procedures
Issuance and Exchange of Clothing, Bedding, and Towels
Marriage Requests
Non-Medical Emergency Escorted Trip
Recreation
Religious Practices
Work

18.
19.
20.

Hunger Strikes
Medical Care
Suicide Prevention and Intervention

21.

23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.

Detention Files
Disciplinary Policy
Emergency Plans
Environmental Health and Safety
Hold Rooms in Detention Facilities
Key and Lock Control
Population Counts
Post Orders
Security Inspections
Special Management Units (Administrative Segregation)
Special Management Units (Disciplinary Segregation)
Tool Control
Transportation (Land management)
Use of Force .
Staff / Detainee Communication (Added August 2003)
Detainee Transfer (Added September 2004)

All findings (Deficient and At-Risk) require written comment describing the finding and what is necessary to meet compliance.

FormG-324A (Rev. 8/13/04) No Prior Version May Be Used After 10/1/04

•

RIC Review Assurance Statement

•

By signing below, the Reviewer-In-Charge (RIC) certifies that all findings of noncompliance with policy or inadequate controls
contained in the Inspection Report are supported by evidence that is sufficient and reliable. Furthermore, findings of noteworthy
accomplishments are supported by sufficient and reliable evidence. Within the scope of the review, the facility is operating in
accordance with applicable law and policy, and property and resources are efficiently used and adequately safeguarded, except for the
deficiencies noted in the report.
Reviewer-In-Charge: (print Name)
b6, b7c

b6, b7c

Title & Duty Location

/

Washington, DC

I

April 25, 2007

b6

b6, b7c

<//()~/O7

b6, b7c

Immigration Enforcement Agent, El Paso,

Texas

Recommended Rating:

o Superior
o Good
[8J Acceptable
o Deficient
OAt-Risk

Comments:

It is the recommendation of the RIC that the facility receive a rating of "Acceptable." The facility now
fully complies with 38 of38 standards.

Form G-324A (Rev. 8/13/04) No Prior Version May Be Used After 10/]/04