The Department may determine that certain work assignments constitute a safety hazard to those prisoners with long hair or beards. Prisoners unwilling or unable to conform to the safety requirements of such work assignment shall be assigned elsewhere. Should examination of a prisoner's hair reveal the presence of vermin, medical treatment should be initiated immediately. The cutting of a prisoner's hair is permissible under these circumstances pursuant to a physician's written order and under the direct supervision of the physician. (b) When the growth or removal of a prisoner's hair, including facial hair, creates an identification problem a new photograph may be taken of that prisoner. Section 4.6 Personal Health Care Items (a) Upon admission to an institution, all prisoners shall be provided at Department expense with an issue of personal health care items, including but not limited to: soap; toothbrush; toothpaste or tooth powder; drinking cup; toilet paper; towel; and aluminum or plastic mirror, unless this is permanently available in the housing area. (b) In addition to the items listed in subdivision (a) of this Section, all women prisoners shall be provided at Department expense with necessary personal hygiene items. (c) Towels shall be exchanged at least once per week. All other personal health care items issued pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) of this Section shall be replenished or replaced as needed. Page 4 of 1978 Minimum Standards. Above is an image of Page 4 of the first publication (1978) of the Minimum Standards for New York City Correctional Facilities issued by the NYC Board of Correction, as given to NYCHS by former NYC DOC photographer Mark Mellett. NYCHS appreciates this and other archival material Mark Mellett has generously donated. Click on the above image to bring up a larger JPG version (at the bottom of which is a link to click to return here). Left is another image of Page 4 of the first publication (1978) of the Minimum Standards. Click on it to access an Adobe Acrobat (PDF) downloadable and printable scanned copy (854 Kb) of the original Page 4. Use your browser's "back" button to return to this page in order to navigate through the rest of this presentation. Section 4.7 Clothing (a) By September 1, 1978, all prisoners shall be entitled to wear clothing provided by the Department as needed. Such clothing shall be laundered and repaired at Department expense and shall include, but is not limited to: one shirt; one pair of pants or one skirt for women, as the prisoner wishes; one pair of pants for men; two sets of undergarments; two pairs of socks; one pair of suitable footwear; and one sweater or sweatshirt to be issued during cold weather. (b) The Department may require sentenced prisoners to wear institutional clothing. Such clothing shall be provided, laundered and repaired at Department expense. (c) Detainees shall be permitted to wear non-institutional clothing. Such clothing may include items: worn by the prisoner upon admission to the institution; and received by the prisoner after admission from any source. This clothing, including shoes, may be new or used. (d) Prisoners shall be permitted to wear all items of clothing that are generally acceptable in public and that do not constitute a threat to the safety of an institution. Women shall be permitted to wear pants and slacks. Women and men shall be permitted to wear short pants and short-sleeve shirts during the warm weather months. (e) Prisoners engaged in work assignment or outdoor recreation requiring special clothing shall be provided with such clothing at Department expense. Section 4.8 Laundry By September 1, 1978, laundry services sufficient to provide all prisoners with a clean change of clothing at least twice per week shall be provided at Department expense. Section 4.9 Bedding (a) By September 1, 1978, upon admission to an institution, all prisoners shall be provided at Department expense with an issue of bedding, including but not limited to: two sheets; one pillow; one pillow case; one mattress; one mattress cover; and sufficient blankets to provide comfort and warmth. (b) Prior to being issued, all bedding items shall be checked for damage and repaired or cleaned, if necessary. (c) Pillowcases and sheets shall be cleaned at least once each week. Blankets shall be cleaned at least once every three months. Mattresses shall be cleaned at least once every six months. (d) Mattresses must be constructed of fire retardant materials. Mattress covers must be constructed of materials both water resistant and easily sanitized.