31 Miss. Code. R. 9-3.2 - Exercise, Recreation & Other Programs

1. Staff shall keep youth occupied through a comprehensive multi-disciplinary program. Staff post and adhere to a daily schedule of activities in each living unit that incorporates both structured and free time.

a. Staff shall log the date and reasons for any deviations from scheduled activities.

2. The facility provides recreational activities, including a range of activities in dayrooms or common areas, including but not limited to: reading, listening to the radio, watching multimedia, board games, drawing or painting, listening to or making music, and letter writing.

3. Facility maintains an adequate supply of recreation materials for use during recreation times.

4. Staff, volunteers, or community groups may provide additional programming that reflects the interests and needs of various racial and cultural groups within the facility, and that is gender-responsive. The facility is encouraged to provide a range of activities such as art, music, drama, writing, health, fitness, meditation/yoga, substance abuse prevention, mentoring, and voluntary religious or spiritual groups. When possible, community-based programming that offers the opportunity for continuity once the youth is released should be offered.

5. Equivalent programming exists for female and male youth in the facility. "Equivalent" does not mean that programming for males and females is identical, but that girls have reasonable opportunities for similar activities and an opportunity to participate in programs of comparable quality.

6. Facility shall provide youth in the facility, including youth in room confinement, at least one hour of large muscle exercise each and every day. Large muscle exercise can be accomplished through the facility school's physical education class so long as the one-hour minimum requirement is met. Facility shall afford youth the opportunity to exercise outside, weather permitting and to the extent the facility allows.

a. Facilities built prior to the effective date of these standards are not required to comply with outdoor recreation if their physical plants do not have such space available and they provide for other appropriate exercise space.

b. The one-hour daily minimum of large muscle exercise does not count towards the 330-minute educational instruction provided by the sponsoring school district, even if provided by the sponsoring school district.

7. Except during sleeping hours, brief periods of transition, such as shift changes, or during scheduled unstructured free time, youth are not to remain in their rooms. Facility shall provide structured recreational, cultural, or educational activities throughout the day to keep youth occupied. Unstructured free time shall be included in the youths' daily schedule.

8. Facility keeps sufficient recreational equipment to provide a variety of physical education activities.

9. Reading materials appropriate for the age, interests, ability and literacy levels of youth are available in sufficient variety and quantity to the youth. Youth are allowed reading materials in their rooms.

10. Any limitations on reading materials must be reasonably related to the security of the facility, or the health and development of youth in the facility.

11. Work.

a. Work assignments shall not be used as a substitute for recreation.

b. Juveniles shall be prohibited from performing such duties as:

i. Personal services for the staff;

ii. cleaning or maintaining areas away from the facility;

iii. replacing employed staff;

iv. any work experience defined as hazardous by the Mississippi Department of Human Resources regulations governing child labor.

Notes

31 Miss. Code. R. 9-3.2

Miss. Code Ann. §§ 43-21-901 to 43-21-915 (Rev. 2016).

Amended 12/28/2019