Minnesota Department of Corrections

Division Directive: 300.032 Title: Admittance Authorization to Adult

Issue Date: 5/6/08 Facilities

Effective Date: 6/3/08

AUTHORITY: Minn. Stat. §241.01, subd. 6.

PURPOSE: To establish procedures regarding admittance of non-facility personnel into adult facilities.

APPLICABILITY: Adult facilities

DIRECTIVE: Facilities may grant authorization for admittance into adult facilities for purposes including, but not limited to, offender meetings with attorneys, approved religious and group activities, law enforcement, court business, media contact, and contractor work. Facilities will develop instructions to implement this directive.

DEFINITIONS:

Valid identification – Driver’s license from state of residence, photo identification card from state of residence, valid photo military identification card, or passport if resident of a foreign country.

Professional visitors - professionals such as a probation officer, attorney, judge, social worker, or religious representative, on official business. This may include law students, Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners (LAMP), paralegals and other agents working under the direct supervision of licensed attorneys.

PROCEDURE:

A. Admittance

1. Department staff may enter other correctional facilities for business-related reasons. They must have a valid photo ID and receive authorization to access the facility from facility staff.

2. Non-facility personnel, including professional visitors, must not be on an offender’s visiting list and be at least 18 years of age. If previously on an offender's visiting list, the non-facility personnel must have been removed from the visiting list for a minimum of one year. The warden/designee may authorize exceptions.

3. Whenever an admission request is received from an individual with a positive criminal history, the facility will review and make a decision concerning the request on a case-by-case basis even if all other admission criteria are met.

a) Criminal accomplices and co-defendants are not allowed admission to any facility.

b) Persons convicted of smuggling or attempting to smuggle contraband into a secure facility are not permitted entry into any facility.

c) Non-facility personnel must have no felony, gross misdemeanor, or criminal cases pending and:

(1) have been discharged from supervised release, conditional release, parole or probation for at least one year; or

(2) have been released from a facility by expiration of sentence for at least one year.

d) Applicants with active warrants will not be approved for facility admission.

e) Construction workers previously incarcerated in a department facility may be denied access based on the security-related nature of the project. The facility captain/designee will make this determination on a case-by-case basis.

f) The warden/designee may authorize exceptions to these guidelines.

4. Staff requests for admission of a non-facility person(s).

a) The staff will complete an Admittance Authorization form (attached) and submit it to the appropriate facility division head, captain or designee three business days in advance of the activity. The Admittance Authorization form must include a list of all items to be brought in or taken out of the facility.

b) The facility division head, captain or designee will review the Admittance Authorization form, indicating necessary background checks to be conducted, and sign if approved. If not approved, the Admittance Authorization form will be returned to the initiating staff.

c) Staff will distribute the approved Admittance Authorization form before the date of the event.

d) The facility division head, captain or designee will review requests on a case-by-case basis in the event of an emergency that results in a notification of less than three days.

5. Admission requested by non-facility personnel.

a) The requestor must contact the facility at least three working days in advance of the event date.

b) The facility contact will confirm the need and purpose of the request.

c) The facility contact will inform the requestor of the required type of identification, credential, or other authorization.

d) The facility contact will arrange for appropriate space for interviews or meetings.

B. Security

1. The requesting staff will escort the non-facility personnel.

2. Non-facility personnel will comply with all security procedures.

3. The requesting staff will determine on a case-by-case basis if special security arrangements are required.

C. Conduct of non-facility personnel. All non-facility personnel will abide by facility policy. Violation of facility rules or any conduct which is deemed a threat to security or the orderly operation of the facility may subject the visitor to termination of the meeting or interview, and or being banned from the facility.

REVIEW: Annually

REFERENCES: ACA Standards 4-4275, 4-4279, 4-4485, 4-4498.

Division Directive 300.030, “Tours - Adult Facilities.”

Policy 301.010, “Searches.”

Division Directive 302.100, “Visiting.”

Division Directive 300.040, “Volunteer Services Program.”

SUPERSESSION: Division Directive 300.032, “Admittance Authorization to Adult Facilities,” 6/5/07.

All facility policies, memos, or other communications whether verbal, written, or transmitted by electronic means regarding this topic.

ATTACHMENTS: Admittance Authorization Form

/s/

David R. Crist, Assistant Commissioner

Facility Services