Operations at San Quentin’s new Central Health Services Building (CHSB), have been under way for several months now. There are five floors in the new structure, which facilitates different classes of inmates. The main entrance on the third level accommodates general population inmates, among others. It is also where the library is located.
The first level accommodates dental and Receiving and Release (R&R), second level handles psyciatric patients and the fourth level has a crisis unit. The fifth floor is occupied by staff only, both medical and correctional officers. Appointment ducats are issued to the inmates for tests and exams.
Inmates enter at CHSB’s main lobby where they check in at the reception desk manned by CDCR staff. Once the inmate is checked in by the desk officer, he is instructed to wait in the lobby .The desk officer asks for the inmates I.D. card and returns it at the completion of the visit.
There is special emphasis on security in the new facility due to the nature of differing classes of inmate patients. Thus, there is a healthy presence of CDCR officers always maintained in the facility.
Certain cases are still referred to outside facilities.
There will be more in upcoming issues of the San Quentin News concerning the efficacy of the new facility as information is made available.
