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· Random Residents
· Observations during the Facility Site Review
The auditor reviewed the Pre-Audit Questionnaire (PAQ), facility policies, staff
training records, and conducted interviews with staff and residents to assess
compliance with Standard 115.315. According to the PAQ, Newport News Juvenile
Detention Center (NNJDC) has not conducted any cross-gender strip searches, cross-
gender visual body cavity searches, or cross-gender pat-down searches of residents
during the previous 12 months. The auditor's review found no evidence
contradicting this information.
NNJDC Policy 115.315, PREA Limits to Cross-Gender Viewing and Searches, prohibits
cross-gender strip searches and cross-gender visual body cavity searches except in
exigent circumstances and requires that any such circumstance be fully
documented and immediately reported to the Secure Detention Administrator. The
policy further establishes procedures governing resident privacy, staff
announcements, and searches involving transgender and intersex residents.
The auditor interviewed twelve randomly selected direct care staff members
representing all shifts and work teams. Staff consistently demonstrated a clear
understanding of the facility's search procedures and could accurately identify
situations that may constitute exigent circumstances, such as natural disasters or
major disturbances. However, all staff indicated they have never been required to
conduct a cross-gender search and stated that adequate staffing levels allow
searches to be conducted by staff of the same gender in accordance with facility
policy.
Sixteen randomly selected residents were interviewed during the on-site audit.
Every resident reported that they had never experienced a cross-gender strip
search, visual body cavity search, or cross-gender pat-down search while housed at
NNJDC. To further verify compliance, the auditor reviewed ten randomly selected
resident files and found no documentation indicating that cross-gender searches
had occurred. Staff schedules and duty assignments also demonstrated that the
facility maintains appropriate staffing to avoid the need for cross-gender searches.
Policy 115.315 also requires that residents be able to shower, perform bodily
functions, and change clothing without nonmedical staff of the opposite gender
viewing their breasts, buttocks, or genitalia, except in exigent circumstances or
when such viewing is incidental to routine room checks. During the facility tour, the
auditor observed that the physical layout of the housing units supports resident
privacy during showers, toileting, and changing clothes. The auditor also verified
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