62 Pa. Stat. § 911

Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-79
Section 911 - Visitation and inspection
(a) The department shall have the power, and its duty shall be:
(1) To make and enforce rules and regulations for a visitation, examination and inspection of all supervised institutions and said visitation, examination or inspection may occur both before and after the beginning of operation of the supervised facility.
(2) To visit and inspect, at least once in each year, all state and supervised institutions; to inquire and examine into their methods of instruction, discipline, detention, care or treatment, the care, treatment, government or management of their inmates or those committed thereto, or being detained, treated or residing therein, the official conduct of their inspectors, trustees, managers, directors or other officer or officers charged with their management by law or otherwise, or having the management, care, custody or control thereof, the buildings, grounds, premises, and equipment thereof, or connected therewith, and all and every matter and thing relating to their usefulness, administration, and management, and to the welfare of the inmates thereof, or those committed thereto or being detained, treated or residing therein.
(b) For these purposes and for the purpose of determining whether or not a facility should be subject to the supervision of the department in accordance with section 902, the secretary, or other officer, inspector or agent of the department, shall have free and full access to the grounds, premises, and buildings of and to all the records, books or papers of or relating to any such State or supervised institution, and full opportunity to interrogate or interview any inmate thereof, or any person or persons committed to or being detained, treated or residing therein, and all persons connected with any such State or supervised institution as officers, or charged with the management, thereof, by law or otherwise, or in any way having the care, custody, control, or management thereof, or connected therewith as employes, are hereby directed and required to give to the secretary, or to such officer, inspector or agent of the department, such means, facilities and opportunity for such visitation, examination, inquiry and interrogation, as is hereby provided and required, or as the department, by its duly ordained rules or regulations, may require.
(c) Whenever upon the visitation, examination, and inspection of any State or supervised institution, any condition is found to exist therein which, in the opinion of the department, is unlawful, unhygienic, or detrimental to the proper maintenance and discipline of such State or supervised institution, or to the proper maintenance, custody, safety, and welfare of the inmates thereof, or of the persons committed thereto, or being treated, detained or residing therein, to direct the officer or officers charged by law with or in any way having or exercising the control, government, or management of such State or supervised institution, to correct the said objectionable condition in the manner and within the time specified by the department, whereupon it shall be the duty of such officer or officers to comply with the direction of the department. If such officer or officers shall fail to comply with such direction, the department may request the Department of Justice to institute appropriate legal proceeding to enforce compliance therewith, or the department may withhold any State money available for such institution until such officer or officers comply with such direction.
(d) To cause to be visited and examined any person found by an inquisition to be insane, and to authorize such visiting and examining by an officer or agent of the department, or any board of visitors, or by a physician, and to apply to the court having jurisdiction over the committee or guardian of such insane person, or to a judge of a court of common pleas of the county in which the insane person is a resident or detained, to make such orders for the maintenance, custody, or care of the insane person, and for the care and disposition of the property of the insane person as the case may require.

62 P.S. § 911

1967, June 13, P.L. 31, No. 21, art. 9, § 911. Amended 1976, July 15, P.L. 993, No. 202, § 8, effective in 60 days.