PRECEPTS:

PRECEPTS: 1. Administration of Correctional Agencies (Central Office): Written policy, procedure, and practice provide that the agency supports and engages in research activities relevant to its programs [2-CO-1F-10]. 2. Adult Probation and Parole Field Services: The field agency supports and engages in internal research relevant to its programs, as well as research conducted by outside professionals [PP 3-3109]. 3. Adult Correctional Institutions: The institution or parent agency supports and engages in research activities relevant to its programs, services, and operations [4-4108]. The Mississippi Department of Corrections will support and engage in research activities relevant to its programs, services, and operations. Research projects will be used to assist in planning and establishing goals and objectives for the MDOC. Controlled studies, evaluations, and policy research will contribute to more efficient and effective institutional operations, programs, and services and will help to increase public safety. 4. Administration of Correctional Agencies (Central Office): The agency permits, encourages, and uses research conducted by outside professionals [2-CO-1F-11]. 5. Adult Correctional institutions: Written policy, procedure, and practice provide that the warden/superintendent encourages and uses research conducted by outside professionals [4-4109]. 6. Adult Correctional Institutions: Operational personnel assist research personnel in carrying out research and evaluation [4-4110]. 7. The MDOC permits, encourages, and uses research conducted by outside professionals. The MDOC staff will assist research personnel in carrying out research and evaluation in order to determine research needs, establish priorities, and assist in the research design, data collections, assessment, and evaluation. 8. The MDOC will have sixty (60) days in which to process the research application and to obtain approval or disapproval from the Commissioner. 9. No research activity will be initiated without the approval letter from the Commissioner or the Director of Policy, Planning, Research and Evaluation (PPRE) or designee. The approval letter will serve as the official admittance into the MDOC facility in which the research will be conducted. 10. No research will be published prior to MDOC’s receipt and review of the final research report. 11. Research Applicants A. Adult Correctional Institutions: Written policy and procedure govern the conduct of research in the institution, including compliance with professional and scientific ethics and with state and federal guidelines for the use and dissemination of research findings [4-4111]. B. All research applicants will comply with MDOC’s research protocol in the submission and execution of proposed projects including compliance with accepted professional and scientific ethics and with state and federal guidelines for the use and dissemination of research findings. C. All research applicants will complete and sign the MDOC Application for Research Access and the Research Informed Consent form. D. Research applicants will submit completed forms to the Director of PPRE or designee. E. After approval, the Principal Researcher will be responsible for obtaining participant signatures and submitting the completed copy(s) of the Research Informed Consent to the PPRE Division within two (2) working days. 12. PPRE Staff A. The PPRE Director or designee will review all research applications and forms for accuracy, discrepancies and completeness. B. The PPRE Director or designee will ensure that all research investigators provide appropriate credentials verification as proof of their capabilities and qualifications to conduct research. C. Adult Probation and Parole Field Services: The administrator of field services and designated staff participate with researchers in deciding what questions should be addressed, what data should be gathered, and how that data should be presented [PP 3-3110]. D. Adult Probation and Parole Field Services: The agency administrator of field services reviews and approves all research projects prior to their implementation [PP 3- 3112]. E. Adult Correctional Institutions: The warden/superintendent reviews and approves all institutional research projects prior to implementation to ensure they conform to the policies of the parent agency [4-4112]. F. The PPRE Director or designee will provide copies of the research proposal to any MDOC facility or administrator who may be affected by the proposed research. The facility or administrator will have ten (10) working days to complete a review of the research proposal. Administrative review of the research proposal will include, but not be limited to the following assessment: 1. A review of what questions to be asked 2. A review of what data to be gathered 3. A review of how the data will be presented 4. A review and approval of the research to be conduct prior to the implementation 5. Potential disruption of normal operations 6. Need for additional security 7. Potential danger to staff, inmates, or researchers 8. Financial impact 9. Unique circumstances specific to a certain correctional environment G. The PPRE Director or designee will ensure that any agency personnel involved in the research process will be responsible for submitting offender data necessary for the completion of the research proposals to the PPRE Department. H. The completed research application, Informed Consent Form and all necessary documentation will be submitted to the MDOC Legal Department for review and then will be submitted to the Commissioner for approval or disapproval. I. All research applicants will be notified in writing when the research proposal has been approved or disapproved. J. The PPRE Director or designee will serve as a liaison between researchers and agency personnel and will monitor the progress of research activities. K. The PPRE Director or designee will ensure all research project records are maintained within PPRE. 13. Participation A. Administration of Correctional Agencies (Central Office): Written agency policy governs participation in nonmedical, nonpharmaceutical, and noncosmetic testing [2-CO-1F-13]. B. Adult Correctional Institutions: Written policy and procedure govern voluntary inmate participation in nonmedical, nonpharmaceutical, and noncosmetic research programs [4-4113]. C. MDOC will allow participation in nonmedical, nonpharmaceutical, and noncosmetic testing after a review of the proposed research and approval by the Commissioner. D. Adult Community Residential Services: In facilities that engage in, or allow the conduct of research, the facility complies with state and federal guidelines for the use and dissemination of research findings, with accepted professional and scientific ethics, and issues of legal consent and release of information. Procedures govern the voluntary participation of offenders in nonmedical, nonpharmaceutical, and noncosmetic research programs. The facility administrator reviews and approves all research projects prior to implementation. All research results are made available to the facility administrator for review and comment prior to publication or dissemination [4-ACRS-7D-12]. E. MDOC’s research protocols require all MDOC facilities to comply with state and federal guidelines for the use and dissemination of research findings, with accepted professional scientific ethics, and issues of legal consent and release of information. F. All voluntary participates will be required to sign a Research Informed Consent form. G. Administration of Correctional Agencies (Central Office): Written policy, procedure, and practice provide that the agency administrator or designee reviews and approves all research proposals and/or designs prior to their implementation [2-CO- 1F-12]. H. The Commissioner or designee will review and approve all research proposals or designs prior to implementation. All research results are made available to the Commissioner or designee for review and comment prior to publication or dissemination. 14. Research Prohibitions A. Administration of Correctional Agencies (Central Office): Written agency policy prohibits inmates/juveniles/residents from participating in medical or pharmaceutical testing for experimental or research purposes [2-CO-1F-14]. B. No inmate will be used for medical or pharmaceutical testing for experimental or research purposes. C. MDOC staff and inmates engaged in any research activities are not entitled to gratuities or compensation of any kind. D. Adult Probation and Parole Field Services: Written policy, procedure, and practice exist to ensure that the privacy of offenders and other parties will be maintained during all research [PP 3-3116]. E. Administration of Correctional Agencies (Central Office): Written agency policy ensures that the privacy of participants will be maintained during all research [2- CO-1F-15]. F. Disclosure of any information that identifies staff, offenders or any other person will be considered a violation of confidentiality and security standards established by law and departmental policy. G. No researcher will violate any requirement imposed by law, or departmental policy and procedures. Violators will be subject to the termination of research and/or the application of civil and criminal penalties. 15. Research Documentation A. Administration of Correctional Agencies (Central Office): Written agency policy, procedure, and practice regulate the use and dissemination of research findings [2- CO-1F-09]. B. Adult Probation and Parole Field Services: Written policy, procedure, and practice specify the method for dissemination of research findings [PP 3-3113]. C. The Director of PPRE will regulate the use of research findings and disseminate all final research reports to the following MDOC personnel: Commissioner, Legal Counsel and Departmental administrators affected by the research