Definitions

Assistant Deputy Commissioner of North/South. A senior level manager who reports to the Deputy Commissioner of the Prison Division and is responsible for ensuring policy compliance and standardization of procedures, for institutions under their supervision (divided by northern and southern sectors), in such areas as staff development, labor management, disorder management, and overall operations. Chief of Staff. As one of the agency's second in command, the Chief of Staff reports directly to the Commissioner of Correction. The Chief of Staff collaborates closely with the Commissioner to ensure the Department's mission and vision are carried out and provides direction to senior level management regarding policy changes and updates. Child. For the purposes of 103 CMR 483.00 only, any person younger than 18 years old requiring a minor consent form to gain entrance into the institution. All persons meeting this criterion shall fall under all provisions of this policy. Commissioner. The Commissioner of Correction. Director of Security. The individual responsible for the overall security within a correctional institution through formulation and enforcement of rules and regulations and by overseeing the performance of security staff. Dress Code for Incarcerated and Civilly Committed Individuals on Visit. Clothing worn by the incarcerated and civilly committed individual while the individual is on a visit. Each Superintendent shall describe the dress code for visits in their institution's orientation manual. General Counsel. The executive staff person who reports to the Commissioner, and is the chief legal counsel for the agency. Holiday. Those legal holidays set forth in M.G.L. c. 4, § 7. Immediate Family. Mother, father, spouse, children, grandchildren, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, half siblings, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, mother or father of an incarcerated or civilly committed individual's child if documented by a birth certificate or other government-issued identification, and if they currently have physical custody of the child. A stepparent is considered within immediate family. Stepchildren may also be considered immediate family if the incarcerated or civilly committed individual and their spouse were married prior to the current incarceration. Passive Detection Canine. A canine that is trained exclusively for contraband detection and to passively indicate the detection (i.e., by sitting or lying down). Personal Search. A clothed search of an individual limited to the pressing of palms of the hand against the outer surface of an individual's clothing, and examination of all pockets, shoes, caps and hairpieces. It does not include the removal of any of the person's clothing except removable outer garments (e.g., sweaters, blazers, suit jackets, coats and sweatshirts). Probable Cause. Facts and circumstances which would lead a reasonable and prudent person to believe that: (a) A crime has been committed, is being committed, or is about to be committed; (b) A particular item or items of physical evidence of that crime presently exists; and (c) The item or items are presently in the location to be searched. Special Visiting Populations. Incarcerated and civilly committed individuals who, due to special conditions of custody, may receive visits in locations other than the general visiting room, or in the general visiting room but only at specified times and/or under specified conditions. Superintendent. The Chief Administrative Officer of a state correctional institution. Video Communication Services. The transmission, conveyance, or routing of real-time, two-way communications, via video, to a point or between or among points by or through any electronic, radio, satellite, cable, optical, microwave, wireline, wireless, or other medium or method, regardless of the protocol used. This shall include, but not be limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, spoken word, data, information, or intelligence, in whole or in part, via video on a computer, tablet, video kiosk, cell phone, or similar electronic device. Video Communication shall not include audio-only communication. Visiting Area. That area within an institution which is designated for visits between incarcerated or civilly committed individuals and visitors. Visiting Area Officer(s). The officer(s) assigned to the visiting area to maintain security and supervision. Visiting Period. A three-to-four-hour block of time provided by each institution, except as outlined in 103 CMR 483.09. Visiting Periods are set by the Superintendent or designee, in their discretion, based upon the safety, security and/or order of the institution. The Department shall provide incarcerated individuals and visitors with as much time spent visiting as reasonably possible within prescribed Visiting Periods, with the understanding that visits lasting the entire length of a Visiting Period may not be possible due to factors, including, but not limited to: staffing limitations; visitor time of arrival at the institution; the number of visitors arriving to an institution in a given timeframe; infrastructure constraints; visiting area capacity; and other institutional safety, security, order, and operational needs and considerations. Visitor (Incarcerated and Civilly Committed Individual). Any person requesting entrance into a correctional institution's visiting room or other approved visiting area for the sole purpose of conducting a social/family visit with an incarcerated or civilly committed individual within any state correctional institution. Visitor Processing. The process of a prospective visitor entering the lobby (or similar area) of an institution and beginning an institution-specific check-in process, such as completing and submitting a visitor processing form. Visitor processing shall begin 30 minutes prior to the Visiting Period, unless inconsistent with the safety, security, and/or orderly operation of the institution. Visitor Processing does not include the search of visitors.