Definitions

Contraband. Any item(s) not approved for inmate retention at an institution. Ditty Bag. For the purposes of 103 CMR 403.00, a bag which contains Department of Correction approved items and sent along in the same vehicle as the inmate when he or she is being transported. Inmate Management System (IMS). The Department of Correction's automated information system that provides processing, storage and retrieval of inmate-related information needed by Department personnel and other authorized users within the criminal justice system. Inmate Property Permission Slip. The form used by inmates to request permission to obtain items of property not sold by the institution's canteen vendor but authorized for inmate retention at the inmate's respective institution and security level. Inventory. The record maintained by the Department in IMS of any and all property belonging to each inmate. Living Quarters. The room, cell, dormitory or other area of any institution where an inmate is housed. Property. Items which include the following: (a) any and all items documented as belonging to, owned by, or otherwise approved for inmate retention in his or her living quarters; (b) items not authorized for inmate retention but temporarily stored by the institution as contraband; (c) items approved for and held in long term storage; (d) legal property in storage which may be exchanged periodically; (e) items temporarily in the possession of a third party outside the institution/Department for repair; and/or (f) items held as evidence by the Department or other law enforcement agency. Property Committee. A group of Department employees, designated by the Commissioner, who review recommendations for inmate property in accordance with 103 CMR 403.00 for approval by the Commissioner. Property Officer. The staff person responsible for the inventory, recording, storage, control, inspection, purchase and/or sale of inmate property at his or her respective institution Property Storage Area. A designated area of an institution where inmate property is stored. Publication. Any book, booklet, pamphlet, magazine, periodical, newsletter, newspaper, or similar document, including stationery and greetings cards, including a copy or printout of same, published by any individual organization, company, or corporation, which is distributed or made available through any means or media for a commercial purpose. Publication includes any portion extracted, photocopied, or clipped from such items, provided, however, that an inmate may receive a maximum of five pages per day, except Sundays and postal holidays, of a portion extracted, photocopied, or clipped from such items as an attachment to personal correspondence as long as the material is not otherwise prohibited by 103 CMR 481.00: Inmate Mail. Security Levels. A degree of security afforded by the architectural and staffing attributes of the correctional institution and housing units within that correctional institution. Security levels are related to custody levels, and the traditional security levels are maximum, medium, minimum, and pre-release/contracted residential placement, as defined in 103 DOC 101: Correctional Institution/Security Levels, available at each inmate library and at http://www.mass.gov/eopss/law-enforce-and-cj/prisons/doc-policies/policy-list. State Issued Property. Property permitted pursuant to 103 DOC 750, Hygiene Standards and 103 DOC 755, Clothing, Linen and Laundry, both available at each inmate library and at http://www.mass.gov/eopss/law-enforce-and-cj/prisons/doc-policies/policy-list, which property is provided to the inmate by the institution. Transient Inmate. Any inmate whose security classification has yet to be determined or who has not been assigned to a permanent housing location.