SHOULD SHOWERS BE LOCATED ON TIER LEVELS OF HOUSING UNITS?
There are important differences between adult and juvenile facilities in this area. It is generally accepted that adult facilities will incorporate showers on both the lower and the tier housing levels. Typically adult inmates have open access to showers during times they are in the dayroom and there is less structured programming to interfere with this access. In juvenile facilities showers typically occur in a more controlled manner, under immediate staff supervision. The daily schedule in juvenile facilities revolves around school and other program requirements that prevent open, unsupervised shower access. There are no regulatory prohibitions against showers on the tier levels in juvenile facilities; however, managers should consider staffing requirements as well as access to towels, clothing and shower supplies if showers are located on upper levels of housing units. If those showers are not used after the facility becomes operational, considerable resources have been wasted and t
