Guidelines for Level System

Dayrooms

Dayroom A/Orientation Unit
Each new admission to Detention will receive an orientation to the four dayrooms. Included with this orientation, each resident will receive a Resident Handbook which spells out both responsibilities (things you must do) and rights of Detention residents.
All new admits are usually placed in Dayroom A following their initial reception into Detention. Residents will receive a complete orientation of Detention by Admission Counselors and any medical care/treatment by medical staff so they may be reassigned to another dayroom.
Residents are usually in Dayroom A 3-5 days. When all requirements have been met, the Detention Officer III or designee will complete a Unit Placement Form recommending placement of a resident to another dayroom. Residents behavior and level/status as shown on the Daily Room Chart will be indicated by the dayroom and number of days, such as 01, 02, 03, etc.

Dayroom B/Sanctions Unit
Residents placed in this dayroom are usually those who have received a special management, such as Behavior Modification, Room Confinement, or Program Suspension. Residents who are from out of state, have received graduation credits from high school, or have been placed in Detention for Sanctions may also be placed in this dayroom. Resident’s behavior and level/status as shown on the Daily Room Chart will be indicated by an S, Satisfactory or a U, Unsatisfactory. For residents on Room Confinement, the status would be indicated by a “0”, zero. Detention Officer III or designee will complete the Unit Placement Form recommending placement of residents to other dayrooms. The Shift Supervisor approves recommendations for placement.

Dayroom C/General Population
Residents in this dayroom usually come from Dayrooms A, B, and sometimes Dayroom D. Residents behavior in this dayroom will be graded based on the Level Score System. There are three different levels of behavior and privilege: A, B and C. ‘A’ is considered the most desirable and ‘C’ is the least desirable. Residents entering the dayroom from the Sanctions Unit or Upward Bound Units will begin on ‘C’ level. Residents entering from the Orientation Unit will begin on the ‘B’ level. Resident’s level as shown on the Daily Room Chart will be indicated by an A, B, or C and the number of days on that level.
Usually, only residents having reached A level would be considered for placement into Dayroom D, the Upward Bound Unit. At times, the population may require B level residents to be moved. Detention Officer III or designee will complete the Unit Placement Form recommending placement of residents to other dayrooms. The Shift Supervisor approves recommendations for placement.
Each resident will be graded by staff members on both day time shifts. Each rater will give resident assigned to them a grade of zero to ten on each of the ten categories. Residents may also earn up to 5 bonus points on the 7-3 shift and on the 3-11 shift, based on positive behavior which goes beyond the normal expectations for residents.
The score is then entered into a box next to the staff notes. The night shift will average the scores from the two day shifts to determine an overall score for the day. The night shift will not give points although a resident may lose points through negative behavior. Such loss of points must be approved by the Shift Supervisor On-duty.

Levels will be calculated as follows:
0--79 = C
80—89 = B
90—105 = A

To move up on the level system a resident must receive a score in the next higher range. No resident can move up more than one designated point each day regardless of the number of points scored. If a resident at a higher level receives a one day score below that level, he will drop to the beginning of the lower level. Rates may be given based on first-hand observation of behavior or through other knowledge at the rater’s discretion.
Residents who become ill will be graded up to the point of their illness. If an illness requires temporary placement in Dayroom B, the resident’s level would normally be frozen, meaning they would not move up or down during the period of illness. Residents would be graded by staff in Dayroom B; their grades would indicate an S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory), or an F (frozen).

Dayrooms D1, D2, D3, D4/Upward Bound Bounds Unit:
Residents placed in this dayroom usually enter on A Level and from Dayroom C, General Population. Other residents may enter from dayroom A, Orientation Unit. Females and males 14 years old and younger are placed in D1 or D4.
Males 15 years old and older are placed in D2 or D3. Dayrooms D1 & D4 and Dayrooms D2 & D3 will program together, I.e., recreation, meals, etc. These placement designations are subject to change based on the needs of the facility and resident population.
Residents are rated by the Level System but will utilize S (Satisfactory), and U (Unsatisfactory). Residents behavior and level/status as shown on the Daily Room Chart will be indicated with a U or S. When a resident receives three U’s in a week, the Detention Officer III’s will determine moving the resident back to the General Population Unit. The Shift Supervisor approves recommendations for placement.
All Detention Officer III’s or their designee will complete and submit a Progress Report to the courts prior to a resident’s court hearing.

Staff who score residents on the level system may give any score from 0 to 10, depending on what a resident does. However, the following guidelines are provided to help residents understand the system better and to provide more consistency between staff.
  1. Personal Hygiene: A score of 10 is for a resident who keeps himself/herself neat and clean without having to be told to do so by staff. This includes taking daily showers, shampooing hair, keeping hair combed, brushing teeth, and washing face and hands. It also involves taking proper care of clothing, keeping rooms cleaned and soap in it’s proper place, and using proper hygiene with others (i.e., not spitting). A score of 0 is for a resident who does a poor overall job in the areas noted, usually failing to maintain proper hygiene in more than one area. Scores someplace between 0 and 10 will be given for residents who do well in some areas but not in others, or for residents who maintain proper hygiene only when staff prompts them or encourages them.

  2. No Privileges Suspended, cont’d: Usually a score between 0 and 10 would not be given in this category. Although, this could be done at staff discretion, if the privilege suspension was minor in nature.

  3. Minor Infractions: A score of 10 is for a resident who has no minor violations of any kind during the shift. A 0 would only be given for any repeated minor infraction. A score between 0 and 10 is given when the behavior leading to the infraction is less serious or is stopped following staff correction.

  4. Manners: A score of 10 is given to the resident who treats other residents and staff in a polite and respectful way without having to be reminded to do so. A 0 can be given to residents who show serious or frequent disrespect towards staff or other residents during the shift. A middle score would be given to the resident who shows good manners but who either slips occasionally or has to be reminded by staff.

  5. Major Infractions: A 10 is for the resident who has no major infractions during this shift. A 0 is given for any major infraction. There are usually no other scores given in this category. It should also be noted that a major infraction will frequently involve a violation of the minor infraction category as well as a privilege suspension. Therefore, a major infraction most often results in a resident’s failure to earn points in several different categories.

  6. Gets Along with Staff: A 10 is for the resident who cooperates fully with all staff during the shift. This includes following staff direction, treating staff with respect and doing as told at all times. A 0 is for the resident who fails to cooperate with staff, who shows disrespect or who used profanity. A score between 0 and 10 is for the resident who is respectful and cooperative most of the time but who either slips occasionally or requires being reminded or being told to do things more than once.

  7. Gets Along with Detainees: A 10 is for the resident who gets along with or does everything possible in attempting to get along with other residents. This includes treating others with respect, avoiding any name calling or profanity, and avoiding fights. A score of 0 is for the resident who has serious problems getting along with others, agitates others, shows a lack of respect for the rights of others or who shows poor sportsmanship. A score between 0 and 10 is for the resident who has minor problems getting along with others or who requires staff correction.

  8. Participates in All Activities: A 10 is for the resident who participates fully and cooperates in all scheduled activities. A 0 is for the person who either can’t participate because he/she fails to attend or who attends but doesn’t participate. A score between 0 and 10 would be given to a resident who participates in some of the activities but not all the activities, or one who fails to show complete participation or cooperation in activities.
    NOTE: Residents who have an obvious or confirmed injury are not expected to participate in gym or recreation activities in order to acquire points.

  9. Attends All Activities: A 10 is for the resident who goes to all scheduled and required activities during the shift. All religious services and some other activities are voluntary and therefore, do not affect the points given. A 0 is for the resident who fails to attend all or most of the required activities. A score between 0 and 10 is for the resident who attends some but not all of the activities during a shift.

  10. Completes Work Assignments: A 10 is for the resident who cooperates fully and does a good job of cleaning his/her room and Dayroom area. This includes sweeping and mopping of the floor, making the bed properly, making sure all articles are in the proper place with nothing being left on the floor, and proper cleaning of the sink and toilet. Room articles, such as books, letters, etc., are to be placed neatly at the foot of the bed. A 0 is for the resident who leaves his/her room in a mess or fails to clean it properly. A score between 0 and 10 is for the resident who does much of their work well but either fails short in some areas or requires staff prompting to complete work tasks.

  11. Positive Reinforcement Points: Residents may be given up to 5 bonus points during each of the day shifts for behavior which exceeds the normal expectations. Examples of this might be volunteering to do extra work, helping another resident, or avoiding a fight, etc. Bonus points are given solely at staff discretion and no resident has a ‘right’ to claim or argue for bonus points. Also, no bonus points can be given to a resident who has a major infraction during the day.

  12. School Attendance: A resident cannot advance on the level system during any day in which they miss any part of the school day due to voluntary non-attendance, illness or behavior. For each complete day of school attendance, residents receive a ‘Berry house Buck’, which can be used to purchase additional phone calls, or commissary items.