State-level solitary confinement policies/procedures and reporting requirements (Department of Corrections)

Dear Mr. Lipton,

This office is in receipt of your request for information below. This email is sent to notify you that the Department of Corrections requires the additional seven work days allowed for response pursuant to Code of Virginia §2.2-3704(4) as it is not practically possible to provide the requested records within the five-work-day period. I do not expect it will take the full seven days and will be in touch as soon as the response is ready.

Sincerely,

Michele Howell

___________________________
Michele S. Howell
Legal Issues Coordinator
Department of Corrections
6900 Atmore Drive
Richmond, VA 23225
(804) 887-8340 - phone
(804) 674-3509 - fax
michele.howell@vadoc.virginia.gov

Dear Mr. Lipton,

As you know, this office is in receipt of your request for information below. Attached are Department policies and procedures currently in place that contain information responsive to your request: Operating Procedure 830.1 Facility Classification Management; Operating Procedure 830.2 Security Level Classification; Operating Procedure 830.A Segregation Reduction Step-Down Program; Operating Procedure 861.3 Special Housing and Operating Procedure 841.7 Structured Living Unit Program. With the exception of OP 830.A, a copy of which is attached, all of the aforementioned operating procedures are available electronically at http://vadoc.virginia.gov/about/procedures/default.shtm#800.

Finally, the Department maintains Restrictive Housing Reduction Step-Down Program: Red Onion State Prison and Wallens Ridge State Prison; Security Level –S and Level-6 Operations Strategy, a copy of which is split into three parts and attached to this email. Security information on pages 11, 12, and 38 has been redacted pursuant to Code of Virginia §2.2-3705.2(6) which exempts from mandatory disclosure, “…operational, procedural…or training manuals,…or other records, the disclosure of which would reveal …operational…plans or protocols, to the extent that such disclosure would jeopardize the security of any governmental facility, building, or structure or the safety of persons using such facility, building or structure.”

Thank you for contacting the Virginia Department of Corrections.

Sincerely,

Michele Howell

___________________________
Michele S. Howell
Legal Issues Coordinator
Department of Corrections
6900 Atmore Drive
Richmond, VA 23225
(804) 887-8340 - phone
(804) 674-3509 - fax
michele.howell@vadoc.virginia.gov

April 9, 2015
Department of Corrections
FOIA Coordinator, Office of the Director
Virginia Department of Corrections
P.O. Box 26963
Richmond, Virginia 23261

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to Virginia Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

All policies/procedures and associated reporting requirements for facilities under this agency's jurisdiction (including juvenile, privately-operated, and those of various security level) related to the segregation of an inmate/person in custody/offender due to disciplinary, classification, medical, safety, or other reasons. Please include policies/procedures/reporting requirements for all such segregation activities, including, but not limited to, those associated with the following terms:

• solitary
• solitary confinement
• Security Housing Units
• Special Housing Units
• Intensive Management Units
• Restricted Housing Units
• Communication Management Units
• disciplinary segregation
• administrative segregation
• involuntary protective custody

The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, and is not being made for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Beryl Lipton

Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>

For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 17297
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

PLEASE NOTE the new address as well as the fact that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than MuckRock News) requests might be returned by the USPS as undeliverable.