<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gsg" article_name="State Government" number="9-4004" title_number="9" title_name="Miscellaneous Executive Agencies" subtitle_number="40" subtitle_name="Office of the Correctional Ombudsman">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Office, in response to a complaint or on the Ombudsman’s initiative, shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>investigate any administrative act that the Ombudsman determines may be:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>contrary to law or regulation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>based on a mistake of fact;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>unsupported by sufficient evidence;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>performed in an inefficient manner;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>unreasonable under the totality of the circumstances; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>otherwise erroneous;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>conduct independent reviews and assessments of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>health services, including substance use disorder assessments and treatment, provided to individuals confined by any agency;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>mental health services provided to individuals confined by any agency;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>plans by agencies to expand, renovate, or close facilities;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>educational and vocational programs for individuals confined by any agency; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>agency policies on restrictive or protective housing;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>cooperate with any agency in efforts to improve the functioning of any agency or prevent abuses by agencies;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>inspect any facilities owned or controlled by any agency to monitor conditions in the facilities;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>seek to resolve complaints against an agency through mediation or other conflict resolution methods;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>maintain a website that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>subject to the requirements of subsection (f) of this section, makes current and past reports available to the public; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>provides contact information for the Office; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>adopt regulations necessary to carry out the requirements of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Office shall investigate each complaint about an administrative act, unless the Office determines that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the complaint could be addressed through another process;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the complaint is trivial, frivolous, vexatious, or not made in good faith;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the complainant unreasonably delayed in bringing the complaint; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the Office lacks sufficient resources to investigate the complaint.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Office shall promptly inform a complainant of a decision not to investigate a complaint.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>On request, the Office shall promptly inform a complainant of the status of an investigation.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>On the completion of an investigation based on a complaint, the Office shall promptly inform the complainant of any conclusions, recommendations, and actions taken in response to the complaint.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>If the Office determines that an employee or agent of an agency acted in a manner warranting criminal charges or disciplinary proceedings, the Office shall promptly refer the matter to appropriate authorities.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Office may:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>interview agency personnel or any individual confined by an agency;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>access any records maintained by an agency;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>perform unannounced site visits and on–site inspections of facilities maintained by an agency;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>receive and respond to complaints without interception, review, or interference by an agency;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>review all reports of disciplinary actions, grievances, and grievance dispositions by the agency; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>collaborate with any agency or any unit of State government to investigate complaints or any alleged injury, neglect, or death of an individual confined by or under the supervision of an agency.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Office may subpoena any individual to appear to give sworn testimony or produce documentary evidence that is reasonably necessary to carry out the Office’s duties.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If an individual fails or refuses to comply with a subpoena issued by the Office, a court of competent jurisdiction, on the application of the Office, may issue an attachment for the individual and compel the individual to comply with the subpoena, appear before the Office, and produce documentary evidence for examination and give testimony.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>If an individual disobeys a subpoena or refuses to testify, the court may punish the individual for contempt.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>In performing the duties assigned under this subtitle, the Office shall treat all complaints as confidential and may reveal the details of any complaints only if it is:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>necessary to carry out the Office’s duties; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>done in accordance with applicable State and federal law.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
