Md. Code Regs. 12.02.03.07

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 25, December 13, 2024

Section 12.02.03.07 - Programs and Staffing

A. Programs.

(1) The facility shall establish a system of inmate classification/ treatment. It shall be conducted by a classification/treatment committee which shall include at least three staff members. One inmate resident of the facility may be assigned as a member of the committee.

(2) The classification/treatment process shall be designed to:

(a) Insure the security of the facility;

(b) Insure the welfare of the inmates;

(c) Insure the protection of the community;

(d) Promote the most effective use of the facility as an instrument of correction and rehabilitation.

(3) The classification/treatment committee shall evaluate and make recommendations regarding each of the following decisions:

(a) Development of and changes in an inmate's treatment program;

(b) Transfer of an individual to another institution;

(c) Pre-parole recommendations;

(d) Granting of additional privileges to an inmate based upon successful participation in the facility's program.

(4) Parole and program termination recommendations made by the classification/treatment committee shall be approved or disapproved by the facility director or, in his absence, the designated acting director.

(5) Comprehensive rehabilitative services shall be made available to inmates of the facility. The purpose of these services is to improve an inmate's education, upgrade vocational skills, obtain suitable employment, strengthen family and mental health, and reduce any tendency to abuse alcohol or drugs.

(6) Responsibility for providing services listed in § B(1) below, rests with the facility. If community resources are available to provide services, facilities are encouraged to use them, but the facility shall remain responsible for insuring that services are available and are rendered to the inmates.

(7) Weekly inmate/staff counselor meetings shall be held with all inmates to provide direction and monitor inmate performance.

(8) The following services shall be made available to inmates on an as needed and practical basis:

(a) Vocational and educational testing;

(b) Job counseling;

(c) Job training;

(d) Job placement;

(e) Drug, alcoholism and family counseling;

(f) Psychological evaluation and/or therapy;

(g) Psychiatric evaluation and/or therapy;

(h) Housing assistance;

(i) Routine medical and dental services;

(j) Emergency medical and dental services;

(k) Adult basic education instruction.

(9) The center shall have an affirmative responsibility to develop those programs and resources within the community that are necessary to meet the needs of the inmates assigned to the facility.

(10) When a Mutual Agreement Program (MAP Agreement) is used to establish a definite parole date of an inmate in a facility, the director and personnel assigned to that facility will be responsible for observing the MAP procedures established by the Commissioner, in agreement with the Chairman of the Maryland Parole Commission. These procedures will be established in the "Maryland Model of Mutual Agreement Programming." Reporting procedures may be established by the Commissioner in order to insure compliance with MAP procedures.

(11) If not already under a MAP contract, once placed in the facility each inmate shall design with his counselor, a treatment program aimed at preparing him for release to the community better able to lead a crime-free life. Generally, an inmate's program should include:

(a) Preparation for securing and holding a job, through education, vocational training, or simply aid in securing a job;

(b) Group or individual counseling, or both, to prepare him to better handle emotional stress; and

(c) The opportunity to acquaint himself with those community agencies which will be available to provide support before and after his release.

(12) The facility shall have documentation to show that it provides for inmate participation in development and implementation of the treatment plan.

(13) The facility shall have documentation to show that it holds weekly staff meetings to review inmate progress with each inmate's progress, reviewed at least once each month.

(14) The facility shall review all changes in the treatment plan with the inmate and document this procedure by staff initial and date.

(15) The facility shall provide access to a variety of social and recreational activities.

(16) The facility shall have written policy and procedures which provide for expanding opportunities for inmate responsibility, involvement with family, and community activities before final release.

(17) Each facility shall have a properly monitored work release program.

(18) To the extent practicable, the facility shall use appropriate programs and services which exist in the community.

(19) All inmates shall be given an opportunity for physical exercise at least once a day.

B. Staffing.

(1) There shall be a minimum of six full-time counseling/security staff for housing units with up to 20 residents, seven for units housing between 21 and 30 residents, and eight for units housing more than 30 residents.

(2) A unit supervisor shall be provided for each housing unit in a facility having more than one unit.

(3) If sufficient resources are not available in the community, then additional paid or volunteer staff shall be used to provide inmates with medical, psychological, psychiatric, educational, and/or employment services.

(4) There shall be one full-time clerical staff for each housing unit. One additional clerical and administrative staff member who may be designated as assistant director shall be available for centers comprising more than two housing units.

(5) The minimum qualifications for a unit supervisor shall be a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited 4 year college or university plus 2 years of appropriate experience, or a master's degree in one of the behavioral sciences.

(6) The minimum qualifications of line counseling and line security staff shall include the completion of 2 years of college.

(7) The agency may have a written policy which outlines experience substitutes for the educational requirements in § B(5) and § B(6) if the agency permits the substitutes.

(8) The director, assistant director, and all line level counseling/security staff shall have completed either the Correctional Specialist, Correctional Officer, Classification Counselor, or Parole and Probation Agent Course or have received certification or waiver by the Maryland Correctional Training Academy before completion of their first year of employment in a facility.

(9) All requirements of the Maryland Correctional Training Commission shall be complied with.

(10) A staff member shall be assigned primary responsibility for the welfare, direction, and counseling of each inmate. Staff members may not be assigned responsibility for more than ten inmates at any given time.

(11) An inmate may not be assigned work that requires access to, or use of, inmate or staff personnel records.

(12) Staff members of one sex may not conduct body searches of persons of the opposite sex.

(13) Staff members of one sex may not supervise the taking of urine samples from inmates of the opposite sex.

(14) Each housing unit of up to 40 inmates shall, at all times, have at least one trained counseling/security staff member awake, on duty, and available for consultation with inmates.

(15) One institutional parole and probation agent shall be provided by the Division of Parole and Probation for each 40 persons residing in a community adult rehabilitation center.

Md. Code Regs. 12.02.03.07