Each superintendent shall ensure each Restrictive Housing Unit
provides for security, safety and orderly operation.
Inmates in Restrictive Housing shall be provided with the
following:
(a) meals that meet the same
standards established by the Commissioner for general population
inmates;
(b) access to showers and
shaving not less than three days per week;
(c) issuance of an allowed exchange of
clothing, bedding, and linen, and provided laundry, barbering, and hair care
services on the same basis as general population;
(d) the same opportunities for writing and
receipt of letters as is available to the general population;
(e) access to legal materials and legal
reference material;
(f) rights of
visitation and communication by those properly authorized; provided, however,
that the authorization may be diminished for the enforcement of discipline for
a period not to exceed 15 days for each offense;
(g) access to reading and writing materials
and the opportunity to borrow reading materials from the institution library
unless clinically contraindicated;
(h) access to either a radio or television,
the choice of which will be in the Department's sole discretion, if confinement
exceeds 30 days;
(i) periodic
mental and psychiatric examinations under the supervision of the Department of
Mental Health;
(j) medical and
psychiatric treatment as clinically indicated under the supervision of the
Department of Mental Health;
(k)
access to canteen purchases and privileges to retain property in a cell as
provided by 103 CMR
403.00:
Inmate Property, however, such
access and privileges may be diminished for the enforcement of discipline for a
period not to exceed 15 days for each offense or where inconsistent with the
security of the unit;
(l) one hour
of exercise per day outside their cells, five days per week, unless security or
safety considerations dictate otherwise. Additional out-of-cell time shall be
provided as required by 103 DOC 650: Mental Health
Services;
(m) telephone
privileges in accordance with 103 CMR
482.00:
Telephone Access and
Use. Superintendents may set limits on the permitted number of
telephone calls; and
(n) the same
access to disability accommodations as inmates in
general population, except
where inconsistent with the security of the unit.
Subject to any disciplinary sanctions imposed in accordance
with 103 CMR 430.00:
Inmate Discipline, upon initial entry to
Restrictive Housing, inmates who possess such will be permitted to retain their
personal tablets. Upon request, after initial entry to Restrictive Housing, and
subject to disciplinary sanctions imposed in accordance with 103 CMR 430.00,
inmates who do not possess personal tablets will be provided with radios and
headphones to use while in Restrictive Housing.
Notwithstanding the provisions of
103 CMR
423.13, the Superintendent may further limit
the amount of property and issue scrubs in lieu of such
clothing for security purposes if there is imminent danger that an inmate or
inmates will destroy an item, or induce injury to self or others.
Inmates held in Restrictive Housing for a period of more than
30 days shall have access to vocational, educational and rehabilitative
programs to the maximum extent possible consistent with the safety and security
of the unit and shall receive good time for participation at the same rates as
the general population. In addition, step down programs shall also be offered
to facilitate the gradual reintegration of the inmate into general population
or the community.
Any inmate who has fewer than 180 days until the inmate's
mandatory release date or parole release date and is held in Restrictive
Housing shall be offered reentry programming that shall include, but not be
limited to, substantial resocialization programming in a group setting, regular
mental health counseling to assist with the transition, housing assistance,
assistance obtaining state and federal benefits, employment readiness training
and programming designed to help the person rebuild interpersonal
relationships, which may include, but not be limited to, anger management and
parenting courses and other reentry planning services offered to inmates in a
general population setting.
