U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Office of Professional Responsibility
Inspections and Detention Oversight Division
Washington, DC 20536-5501

Office of Detention Oversight
Compliance Inspection
Enforcement and Removal Operations
ERO Washington Field Office
Immigration Centers of America Farmville
Farmville, Virginia

July 7–9, 2015

COMPLIANCE INSPECTION
for the
Immigration Centers of America Farmville
FARMVILLE, VIRGINIA
TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Overall Findings...................................................................................................................2
Findings by Performance-Based National Detention Standards (PBNDS) 2011 Major
Categories ............................................................................................................................3
INSPECTION PROCESS .............................................................................................................4
DETAINEE RELATIONS ............................................................................................................5
INSPECTION FINDINGS
SECURITY
SPECIAL MANAGEMENT UNITS .............................................................................................6
JUSTICE
DETAINEE HANDBOOK ..........................................................................................................6
LAW LIBRARIES AND LEGAL MATERIALS .............................................................................6

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INSPECTION TEAM MEMBERS

(b)(6), (b)(7)c

Office of Detention Oversight
July 2015
OPR 201507337

Lead Inspections and Compliance Specialist
Inspections and Compliance Specialist
Inspections and Compliance Specialist
Contractor
Contractor
Contractor
Contractor
Contractor
Contractor
1

ODO
ODO
ODO
Creative Corrections
Creative Corrections
Creative Corrections
Creative Corrections
Creative Corrections
Creative Corrections

Immigration Centers of America Farmville
ERO Washington

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Office of Detention Oversight (ODO) conducted a compliance inspection of the Immigration
Centers of America-Farmville (ICAF), also known as the Farmville Detention Center, in
Farmville, Virginia, from July 7 to 9, 2015.1 ICAF opened in 2010 and is owned and operated
by the Immigration Centers of America, LLC (ICA). Enforcement and Removal Operations
(ERO) began housing detainees at ICAF in 2010 pursuant to an Intergovernmental Service
Agreement (IGSA), under the oversight of ERO’s Field Office Director (FOD) in Fairfax, VA.
ERO staff members are assigned to
Quantity
the facility. A Detention Services Capacity and Population Statistics
Manager provides part-time coverage Total Bed Capacity
1,752
at the facility. An ICAF Director ICE Detainee Bed Capacity
1,752
(ICA employee) is responsible for
Average Daily Population
734
oversight of daily facility operations
734
and is supported by (b)(7)e personnel. Average ICE Detainee Population
43
Trinity Food Service provides food Average Length of Stay (Days)
1,483
services, and the Armor Correctional Male Detainee Population (as of 07/07/2015)
Health Services, Inc. provides Female Detainee Population
N/A
medical services. The facility is
accredited by the American Correctional Association and the National Commission on
Correctional Health Care.

OVERALL FINDINGS
In January 2012, ODO conducted an
inspection of the ICAF under the
Performance-Based
National
Detention Standards (PBNDS) 2008,
reviewing the facility’s compliance
with 26 standards and finding the
facility compliant with 18 standards.
There were a total of 12 deficiencies
in the remaining eight standards.

Inspection Results
Compared

FY 2012
(PBNDS 2008)

FY2015
(PBNDS 2011)

Standards Reviewed

26

16

Deficient Standards
Overall Number of
Deficiencies
Deficient Priority
Components

8

3

12

4

0

1

Corrective Actions Initiated

0

1

In FY2015, ODO conducted an inspection of ICAF under the PBNDS 2011, reviewing the
facility’s compliance with 16 standards and finding the facility compliant with 13 standards.
ODO found four deficiencies in the remaining three standards; one of the deficiencies relates to a
priority component. 2 Finally, ODO identified one opportunity where the facility initiated
corrective action during the course of the inspection.3

1

Male detainees with low, medium and high security classification levels are detained at the facility for longer than
72 hours.
2
A deficient priority component was found in the following standard: Detainee Handbook (1).
3
Corrective actions, where immediately implemented, best practices and ODO recommendations, as applicable,
have been identified in the Inspection Findings section and annotated with a “C”, “BP” or “R”, respectively.

Office of Detention Oversight
July 2015
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Immigration Centers of America Farmville
ERO Washington

FINDINGS BY PBNDS 2011 MAJOR CATEGORIES
PBNDS 2011 STANDARDS INSPECTED4

DEFICIENCIES

Part 1 - Safety
1.2 - Environmental Health and Safety
Sub-Total

0
0

Part 2 - Security
2.1 - Admission and Release
2.2 - Custody Classification System
2.5 - Funds and Personal Property
2.11 - Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention and Intervention
2.12 - Special Management Units
2.13 - Staff-Detainee Communication
2.15 - Use of Force and Restraints
Sub-Total

0
0
0
0
2
0
0
2

Part 4 - Care
4.1 - Food Service
4.3 - Medical Care
4.4 - Medical Care (Women)
4.6 - Significant Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention and Intervention
Sub-Total

0
0
0
0
0

Part 5 - Activities
5.6 - Telephone Access
Sub-Total

0
0

Part 6 - Justice
6.1 - Detainee Handbook
6.2 - Grievance System
6.3 - Law Libraries and Legal Materials
Sub-Total

1
0
1
2

Total Deficiencies

4

4

For greater detail on ODO’s findings, see the Inspection Findings section of this report.

Office of Detention Oversight
July 2015
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Immigration Centers of America Farmville
ERO Washington

INSPECTION PROCESS
Every fiscal year, the Office of Detention Oversight (ODO), a unit within U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), conducts
compliance inspections at detention facilities in which detainees are accommodated for periods
in excess of 72 hours and with an average daily population greater than ten to determine
compliance with the applicable ICE National Detention Standards (NDS) 2000, or the
Performance-Based National Detention Standards (PBNDS) 2008 or 2011, as applicable.
During the compliance inspection, ODO reviews each facility’s compliance with those detention
standards that directly affect detainee health, safety, and/or well-being.5 Any violation of written
policy specifically linked to ICE detention standards, ICE policies, or operational procedures that
ODO identifies is noted as a deficiency. ODO will highlight any deficiencies found involving
those standards that ICE has designated with either the PBNDS 2008 or 2011 to be “priority
components.” 6 Priority components have been selected from across a range of detention
standards based on critical importance, given their impact on facility security and/or the health
and safety, legal rights, and quality of life of detainees in ICE custody.
Immediately following an inspection, ODO hosts a closeout briefing in person with both facility
and ERO field office management to discuss their preliminary findings, which are summarized
and provided to ERO in a preliminary findings report. Thereafter, ODO provides ERO with a
final compliance inspection report to: (i) assist ERO in working with the facility to develop a
corrective action plan to resolve identified deficiencies; and (ii) provide senior ICE and ERO
leadership with an independent assessment of the overall state of ICE detention facilities. The
reports enable senior agency leadership to make decisions on the most appropriate actions for
individual detention facilities nationwide.

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6

ODO reviews the facility’s compliance with selected standards in their entirety.
Priority components have not been identified for the NDS.

Office of Detention Oversight
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Immigration Centers of America Farmville
ERO Washington

DETAINEE RELATIONS
ODO interviewed 40 detainees, who volunteered to participate. None of the detainees made
allegations of mistreatment, abuse, or discrimination. The majority of detainees reported being
satisfied with facility services, with the exception of the complaints below:


Food Service: Ten detainees alleged they receive small portions when served and they
observed worms in their food several times in February 2015 and two weeks prior to the
inspection.
o Action Taken: ODO notified food service about the alleged issues. ODO
observed and measured the serving sizes during the lunch meal and determined
the current serving sizes met the requirements of the standard. Food service
advised Boll Weevils were found in the flour in February 2015. The flour was
replaced and the facility now inspects each batch of flour prior to use to ensure no
insects are present. Food service notified ODO, there were no new reports of
worms.



Medical Care: Three detainees alleged they were not receiving adequate medical
attention. One detainee alleged he was not properly treated for acne. One detainee
alleged he was not provided eyeglasses for vision correction. One detainee alleged he
was not properly treated for sensitive skin.
o Action Taken:
ODO consulted with medical staff about the aforementioned allegations.
Medical services notified ODO, the detainee with acne allegations was seen on
January 12, 2014, and the detainee was provided a prescription cream and
instructed by facility medical staff on the application.
Medical services notified ODO; the detainee with vision correction allegations
received a vision check, which determined his vision was 20/40. Medical staff
notified ODO, this does not meet the requirements for eyeglasses.
Medical services notified ODO, the detainee with sensitive skin allegation, was
seen by the doctor on May 11, 2015. The doctor provided the detainee with
medication and the medical staff instructed the detainee on its use.

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Immigration Centers of America Farmville
ERO Washington

INSPECTION FINDINGS
SECURITY
SPECIAL MANAGEMENT UNIT (SMU)
ODO reviewed the SMU files and determined detainees placed in administrative segregation
were not given a copy of the reviewing officer’s decision. This finding was confirmed in an
interview with the facility Operations Chief (Deficiency SMU-17)
ODO reviewed the SMU files and determined detainees placed in disciplinary segregation were
not provided with copies of the reviewing officer’s decision. This finding was confirmed in an
interview with the facility Operations Chief (Deficiency SMU-28).

JUSTICE
DETAINEE HANDBOOK (DH)
A review of the facility handbook revealed, the handbook lacked contact information for the
ERO Field Office and the scheduled hours and days that ERO staff is available to be contacted
by detainees at the facility (Deficiency DH-19).
Corrective Action:
The facility initiated corrective action by issuing and posting a
memo in detainee housing units of the contact information and scheduled hours (C-1).
LAW LIBRARIES AND LEGAL MATERIALS (LL&LM)
ODO reviewed the detainee handbook and determined it does not include procedures for
reporting missing, out of date, or damaged materials to a designated facility
employee (Deficiency LL&LM-110).

7

“A copy of the decision and justification for each review shall be given to the detainee unless, in exceptional
circumstances, this provision would jeopardize the facility’s safety, security, or orderly operations. The detainee
shall also be given an opportunity to appeal a review decision to the facility administrator.” See ICE PBNDS 2011,
Standard 2.12, Special Management Units, Section (V)(A)(3)(e).
8
After each formal review, the detainee shall be given a written copy of the reviewing officer’s decision and the
basis for his/her finding, unless such a copy may result in a compromise of institutional security. If a written copy
cannot be delivered, the detainee shall be advised of the decision orally, and the detention file shall so note,
identifying the reasons why the notice was not provided in writing.” See ICE PBNDS 2011, Standard 2.12, Special
Management Units, Section (V)(B)(3)(b)(5).
9
“While all applicable topics from the handbook must be addressed, it is especially important that each local
supplement notify each detainee of: contact information for the ICE/ERO Field Office and the scheduled hours and
days that ICE/ERO staff is available to be contacted by detainees at the facility.” See ICE PBNDS 2011, Standard
6.1, Detainee Handbook, Section (V)(B)(14). This is a priority component.
10
“The detainee handbook shall also provide detainees with information regarding the procedure for notifying a
designated employee that library material is missing, out of date, or damaged.” See ICE PBNDS 2011, Standard
6.3, Law Libraries and Legal Materials, Section (V)(E)(2).

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Immigration Centers of America Farmville
ERO Washington