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ACOUSTICS - INDIAN RIVER COUNTY JAIL <br />Administrator Balczun reviewed the following: <br />TO:Bd. of County Comm. <br />DATE: May 4, 1988 FILE: <br />SUBJECT: ACOUSTICS - INDIAN RIVER <br />COUNTY JAIL <br />FROM:Charles P. Balczun 3�, 1 69 a <br />County Administrator 1'4'0444917 ti <br />N (�M fto �uitw y <br />iL. <br />c^c�22 NF �ok .v <br />oWW <br />By letter dated April 21, 1988 I requested Correctional Internal <br />Inspector Supervisor E. Russell Smith of the Florida Department of <br />'Corrections to provide us with "specific data, definitions or <br />target levels which would be satisfactory" concerning the acoustics <br />at the Indian River County Jail. A copy of that correspondence is <br />attached for your information. <br />BACKGROUND <br />REFERENCES: <br />As a response, I have received a copy of a memorandum from <br />Assistant Attorney General James Peters to Mr. Smith dated April <br />29, 1988. A copy of that memorandum is also attached. <br />Please note the AAG Peters statement. with respect to American <br />Correctional Association Standards for Local Detention Facilities # <br />2-5.114 which states: <br />"... noise levels generally within these parameters would <br />be in compliance with the more general standard of 33-8.005 <br />(10)(a)6." <br />AAG Peters also states: <br />".... this standard was not expressly adopted so as to <br />enable local detention facilities some leeway in con- <br />struction and to avoid controversy arising from an <br />unduly rigid standard." <br />The ACA standard to which reference is made provides for daytime <br />noise levels not exceeding 70 db and nighttime noise levels not <br />exceeding_45 db. <br />While we do not have empirically derived sound level data which <br />resulted in the original inspection acoustics citation and <br />consequently do not know the extent to which we must reduce noise <br />levels, it is important to recognize that every 1 db increase means <br />a 26% increase in sound power while a 1 db decrease means a 20% <br />decrease in sound power. <br />ANALYSIS <br />Our existing maximum security pod has been cited for inadequate <br />acoustics. We will certainly continue to be cited if we do not <br />take appropriate action. <br />The DOC however does not yet have a fixed standard as evidenced by <br />AAG Peters' referenced memorandum. It appears that the ACA <br />standard would be strongly considered for adoption if DOC elects to <br />adopt any fixed standard at all. <br />MAY 1019&8 <br />35 <br />Boog 72 PAUU 315 <br />