WSR 12-11-054

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS


[ Filed May 14, 2012, 3:45 p.m. , effective June 14, 2012 ]

Reviser's note: The following material has not been adopted under the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW, but has been filed in the office of the code reviser and is published in the Register exactly as filed.


     Following are the department of corrections' amendments to chapter 137-32 WAC, Administration segregation. These rules are submitted for publication in the Washington State Register and the Washington Administrative Code. Pertinent information follows:

     1. Amendments to chapter 137-32 WAC, are adopted as of May 14, 2012.

     2. The effective date of these rules shall be thirty-one days after filing.

     3. I certify pursuant to RCW 34.05.030 that the rule as stated above is excluded from the Administrative Procedure Act.

Bernard Warner

Secretary

OTS-4705.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 07-08-063, filed 3/29/07, effective 4/29/07)

WAC 137-32-002   Definitions.   For the purpose of this chapter the following words shall have the following meanings:

     (1) "Department" means the department of corrections.

     (2) "Adult correctional institution" and "institution" mean a facility identified in RCW 72.01.050(2) and any similar facility hereafter established.

     (3) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of corrections.

     (4) "Deputy secretary" means the deputy secretary of the prisons division of the department, or the deputy secretary's designee.

     (5) "Superintendent" means the superintendent of an institution, or the superintendent's designees.

     (6) "Hearing officer" means the person named by a superintendent to act for the superintendent in reviewing the cases of inmates assigned to administrative segregation status.

     (7) "Inmate" means any person assigned to the custody of the department, including any person transferred to an institution from another state or the federal government.

     (8) "Administrative segregation status" means segregation of an inmate of an institution for nondisciplinary reasons.

     (9) "Intensive management status" means an assignment to administrative segregation for an extended period after other alternatives have been explored.

     (10) "((Classification)) Facility risk management team meeting" means a multidisciplinary meeting with an inmate held to:

     (a) Determine whether the inmate should be placed on administrative segregation status, continued on administrative segregation status, placed on intensive management status, continued on intensive management status, released to the general inmate population, recommended for either an in-state or out-of-state transfer; and/or

     (b) Develop an action plan, expectations and goals relative to the rehabilitation of the inmate.

     (11) "Working days" means Monday through Friday excluding holidays.

[07-08-063, § 137-32-002, filed 3/29/07, effective 4/29/07. 00-09-063, § 137-32-002, filed 4/17/00, effective 5/19/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 72.01.090. 85-01-059 (Order 84-15), § 137-32-002, filed 12/17/84.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 07-08-063, filed 3/29/07, effective 4/29/07)

WAC 137-32-015   Segregation meeting procedures.   (1) The hearing officer will preside over ((segregation)) multidisciplinary facility risk management team meetings of inmates assigned to administrative segregation status.

     (2) Subsequent to the initial review ((a segregation review will occur every seven days for the first two months and at least every thirty days thereafter)) an intermediate review will take place no later than fourteen days following the initial review. A final review will take place thirty days following the intermediate review.

     (3) Offenders will be provided advanced notice, of at least forty-eight hours, for any segregation review after the initial review, to include:

     (a) The date, time, purpose, and place of the classification meeting;

     (b) Related criminal charges, if known, evolving from the incident for which the inmate is placed on administrative segregation status;

     (c) That the inmate has the opportunity to provide the hearing officer with names of inmates or institution staff from whom witness statements should be obtained; and

     (d) That only written statements will be considered during the course of the hearing unless the hearing officer requires oral testimony for clarification.

     (4) The hearing officer will ensure that all witnesses named by the inmate are provided with witness statement forms as soon as practical, but not less than twenty-four hours prior to the classification meeting.

     (5) The following procedures will be adhered to during all classification meetings:

     (a) The inmate may be present at all stages of the meeting except during discussions involving information from confidential sources.

     (b) The hearing officer will document the meeting setting forth the information presented, including all witness statements.

     (c) The superintendent may designate an institution staff member, other than the hearing officer, to present evidence either supporting continued administrative segregation or release therefrom.

     (d) The hearing officer shall have the authority to schedule inmates, institution staff members, or other persons to appear and present or clarify information which may be relevant to the hearing officer's decision. To the extent possible, confidential information presented to the hearing officer shall be presented by the individual receiving the information. The source shall be identified to the hearing officer, except when the superintendent directs that the source is to remain confidential.

     (e) The hearing officer will provide the inmate with an opportunity to present the inmate's views to the hearing officer to clarify information from the witness statements. The inmate may present a written statement in lieu of, or in addition to oral testimony. The written statement will be included in the record.

     (f) If the inmate refuses to attend the hearing, this fact will be documented by the hearing officer.

     (g) An inmate may select an institution staff member, approved by the superintendent, to assist and advise the inmate at the hearing. The advisor may be a staff member not ordinarily assigned responsibility for the inmate. The advisor shall not be an inmate. The advisor will be approved by the superintendent only if, in the superintendent's judgment, the inmate is unable to present his/her own case.

     (6) The hearing officer should make a written report to the superintendent and the inmate within one working day after the classification meeting, which will include:

     (a) A recommendation that the inmate be continued in administrative segregation, released back to the general population, or transferred to a more appropriate facility, in or out of state;

     (b) An individual behavioral management plan which includes expectations for changes necessary in the inmate's behavior and appropriate program participation for the inmate's return to the general inmate population; provided, however, accomplishment of any such identified behavioral changes and/or program completions/referrals shall not necessarily require discharge from administrative segregation, but shall be considered along with all other circumstances; and

     (c) A summary of the inmate's adjustment while in administrative segregation status.

     (7) The inmate may appeal the report by submitting written objections and whatever other written information the inmate feels is relevant to the superintendent/designee. Such material shall be filed within twenty-four hours of the inmate's receipt of the report.

     (8) The hearing officer should notify the inmate in writing within one working day after receiving the superintendent's decision regarding retention of the inmate in administrative segregation or the inmate's release therefrom, other action directed by the superintendent, and the date of the next classification meeting, if any.

     (9) Inmates reviewed at the segregation review meeting will be considered for one or more of the following:

     (a) Referral to the deputy secretary/designee with a recommendation that the inmate be placed on intensive management status;

     (b) Return to the general inmate population with clear behavioral expectations for remaining there; or

     (c) Transfer to a more appropriate facility or unit, within or outside the state.

[07-08-063, § 137-32-015, filed 3/29/07, effective 4/29/07. 00-09-063, § 137-32-015, filed 4/17/00, effective 5/19/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 72.01.090. 85-01-059 (Order 84-15), § 137-32-015, filed 12/17/84.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 07-08-063, filed 3/29/07, effective 4/29/07)

WAC 137-32-025   Intensive management status.   An inmate will be placed on intensive management status in accordance with the following procedures:

     (1) The hearing officer may, after conducting a formal hearing, recommend to the superintendent that the inmate be placed on intensive management status stating the reasons therefore.

     (2) The superintendent/designee will review the hearing officer's recommendation, and if approved will forward a copy thereof to the deputy secretary/designee for final approval.

     (3) The cases of all inmates assigned to intensive management status will have ((an)) a mental health assessment completed within the first thirty days.

     (4) Reviews by the hearing officer will be held at intervals not to exceed thirty days.

     Formal classification meetings will be held at intervals not to exceed one hundred eighty days.

[07-08-063, § 137-32-025, filed 3/29/07, effective 4/29/07. 00-09-063, § 137-32-025, filed 4/17/00, effective 5/19/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 72.01.090. 85-01-059 (Order 84-15), § 137-32-025, filed 12/17/84.]

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