DENVER SHERIFF DEPARTMENT
Office of the Sheriff
 Department Order
1.00.1068
 Previous Revision:
April 2021		  Current Revision:
November 2021		  Reviewed:
October 2021
  Effective Date:
November 22nd, 2021 
Related Standards:
N/A
Related (referenced) Department Orders:
N/A
 Subject:
LACTATION SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE-IN-CUSTODY
 
  1. Policy:
    1. It is the policy of the Denver Sheriff Department (DSD) to provide education and support to breastfeeding individuals and to facilitate the provision of breastmilk as a food source for their children during their period of incarceration. 
  2. Purpose:
    1. The DSD acknowledges the health benefits of breastfeeding for both parents and children and strives to ensure that these benefits are not interrupted due to incarceration. 
    2. Breastfeeding individuals require access, to the appropriate materials:
      1. education and equipment for the management of milk production; 
      2. prevention of breast infection and pain relief;
      3. are entitled to express milk in a respectful and safe location; and
      4. other resources as necessary.
    3. The DSD supports breastfeeding individuals and caregivers in their efforts to maintain the supply and transport of breastmilk to children as an optimal food source. The DSD desires to provide educational resources and support regarding the benefits of breastfeeding, lactation consultation, and access to post-incarceration supportive resources. 
  3. Definitions:
    1. "Lactation Consultant" - refers to a healthcare professional who specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding. At a minimum, medical staff or external partners providing lactation consultant services should be a Certified Lactation Consultant (CLC) and will have access to IBCLC practitioners for consultation and referral as may be needed.
      1. Ideally, persons providing lactation consultant services should be an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC®) as certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® (IBLCE®) and verified on the public registry at www.iblce.org.
    2. "Private Location" - means for the purposes of this department order, a location other than a bathroom or toilet stall which is reasonably quiet, is not generally accessible and shielded from view of other inmates and department staff while milk expression is occurring. The DSD staff will determine the most appropriate location to allow milk expression, balancing the inmate’s need for privacy and freedom from intrusion with the safety and security needs of the inmate, staff, and other inmates. 
  4. Process:
    1. Any security concerns regarding the inmate’s participation in the lactation support program outlined in the policy and procedure manual, the staff shall document the concerns and then provide the documentation to the programs administrator. All reasonable opportunities to participate in at least some component of the program shall be evaluated (eg – if unsupervised access to the electric breast pump is of concern, staff will evaluate alternatives such as access to the handpump or options to provide privacy while protecting the safety of the inmate, staff, and other inmates.
    2. If an inmate is on suicide watch status, health services and DSD staff will evaluate safety and security concerns on an individual basis regarding an inmate’s use of the hand pump. 
    3. The operations sergeant shall be responsible for ordering breast pump supplies on an as-needed basis as notified by the housing deputy or programs administrator. 
    4. Equipment offered to inmates participating in the lactation support program includes but is not limited to the following:
      1. education materials; 
      2. hand pump;
      3. electric pump supplies;
      4. milk storage and transport supplies; 
      5. two bras when transferred from DDC to County Jail
      6. a pregnancy diet; and
      7. other resources as deemed appropriate.
    5. If an inmate gives birth while in the custody of the DSD, lactation and breastfeeding support options will be provided as part of the after-birth care plan at the Correctional Care Medical Facility (CCMF). 
      1. Access to the breastfeeding program as stated below will be made available to the inmate upon discharge from the CCMF to the Downtown Detention Center (DDC) or County Jail (COJL) facility.
    6. Due to facility and security constraints, every effort will be made to provide a private location, free from other staff and inmate intrusion, for the inmate to express breastmilk. However, if the inmate demonstrates medical or behavioral concerns, the DSD will identify an appropriate location and supervision protocol for that inmate’s needs that will balance the need for privacy with the safety of the inmate and staff. 
    7. DSD staff will offer the inmate a consultation with a certified lactation consultant. 
    8. If the inmate wishes to conduct the consultation, the medical staff for that facility will begin coordinating a consultation within twenty-four (24) hours of the request.
    9. Inmates participating in milk storage and transport as part of this program will need to sign a waiver, prior to participation, indicating, but not limited to the following:
      1. they are not using drugs or alcohol;
      2. the DSD is not responsible for any loss or damage (i.e. spillage) to any breastmilk awaiting pickup; and
      3. the DSD is not responsible for any loss or damage (i.e. improper temperature storage) to breastmilk after pickup.
  5. Accountability:
    1. All employees are responsible for enacting the provisions set forth in this policy.
  6. Responsibility:
    1. Training: 
      1. The Training Academy will ensure that the curriculum of all currently existing classes and any newly developed classes are compliant with this order.
    2. Management: 
      1. The division chief/unit commander or unit manager of any division or unit affected by this policy will:
        1. Ensure that existing procedures and all newly developed orders are in compliance with this order.
        2. Ensure that all affected personnel are made aware of this policy.
        3. Ensure this policy is reviewed annually for compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and standards.
    3. Supervisors: 
      1. All supervisors will ensure that the provisions of this policy are being followed.
    4. Staff: 
      1. All employees will comply with the provisions of this policy.
  7. Effective Date: This order will become effective on November 22nd, 2021.
  8. Approval: This document has been reviewed, approved, and electronically signed by the Sheriff of the City and County of Denver prior to its publication.