<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 12.03.01.05" title_num="12" subtitle_num="03" chapter_num="01" heading="Pre-Disciplinary Proceeding Procedures — Pre-Disciplinary Proceeding Phase — Investigating and Reporting an Inmate Rule Violation.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Investigation.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Staff shall initiate an investigation when there is cause to believe that an inmate is non-compliant and has committed an inmate rule violation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>As part of the investigation, staff shall attempt to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Determine the facts and circumstances of the event;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Identify the inmate’s alleged conduct and inmate rule violation committed;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Identify a witness who may have factual knowledge of the reported event and alleged inmate rule violation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Identify, secure, and preserve evidence regarding the reported event and the alleged inmate rule violation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An investigation under this regulation may include, but not be limited to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A verbal or written event report to the shift supervisor or commander; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>An investigation that requires a period of time to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Interview a witness;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Gather evidence;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Determine the facts of the event as to what occurred;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Identify individuals involved; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Select the possible inmate rule violation or violations under Regulation .04 of this chapter to be charged.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Reporting an Inmate Rule Violation.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Upon completion of the investigation under §A of this regulation, when staff determines that an inmate allegedly violated an inmate rule or rules under this chapter, staff shall use a Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form to report the inmate rule violation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If an inmate is alleged to commit an inmate rule violation, the reporting staff shall, within 1 calendar day of the completion of the required investigation:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Complete the reported facts section of the Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Forward the completed Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form to the shift supervisor.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Shift Supervisor Review.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Upon receipt of a Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form, the shift supervisor, shall review:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The defendant’s Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Administrative reports submitted in connection with the event; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Attachments or other evidence that may have been submitted by staff regarding the inmate’s alleged inmate rule violation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>After conducting the review, the shift supervisor shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Return the Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form to reporting staff if the Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form is defective or in error and requires correction, addition, or deletion requiring staff to provide the shift supervisor with the corrected Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Determine the inmate rule or rules with which the defendant is to be charged;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Make a recommendation to the shift commander that the defendant be housed in administrative segregation pending the outcome of the defendant’s disciplinary proceeding, if the shift supervisor believes that the conduct alleged in the reported event or the defendant’s disciplinary history constitutes a threat to the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Security of the facility, Department, or community; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Safety of an inmate, staff, or an individual;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Record the inmate rule violation or violations charged in the Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form and:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>If the defendant is charged with a Category IA, IB, or II inmate rule violation, refer the case to a hearing officer for a formal disciplinary proceeding; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>If the defendant is charged with only a Category III, IV, or V violation, refer the case to a hearing officer for a disciplinary proceeding, or offer the defendant an informal resolution.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If the shift supervisor recommends placing the defendant in administrative segregation under §C(2)(c) of this regulation, forward the completed Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form to the shift commander for review.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Shift Commander Review.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Upon receipt of a recommendation in accordance with §C(3) of this regulation, the shift commander shall review the recommendation and determine if there is cause to believe the defendant is or is not a threat to the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Security of the facility, Department, or community; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Safety of an inmate, staff, or an individual.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the shift commander finds there is cause to believe there is a security or safety threat posed by the defendant’s reported conduct, inmate rule violation charged, or the defendant’s disciplinary history, the shift commander shall approve placing the defendant on administrative segregation housing status and indicate the approval on the Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Additionally, the shift commander may:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Review the defendant’s Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Exercise the same options authorized for a shift supervisor under §C of this regulation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Completion of Review. — The shift supervisor’s review required under §C of this regulation and, if required, a shift commander’s review under §D of this regulation shall be completed within 1 calendar day of the date that the last draft of the reported facts section was accepted.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Redrafting Notice of Inmate Rule Violation Form and Notice of Inmate Disciplinary Hearing Form.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A shift supervisor, shift commander, or facility representative reviewing a Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form or Notice of Inmate Disciplinary Hearing form may direct the staff submitting the form to make corrections, additions, deletions, or other changes to the form or other documentation submitted with the form prior to or after service of the Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form or Notice of Inmate Disciplinary Hearing form on the defendant.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Except under §F(3) of this regulation, if staff determines that the Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form or Notice of Inmate Disciplinary Hearing form is technically in error or evidentially insufficient after the defendant has been served a copy of the Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form or Notice of Inmate Disciplinary Hearing form, staff shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Prepare a new or revised Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form or Notice of Inmate Disciplinary Hearing form that supersedes the previously served Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form or Notice of Inmate Disciplinary Hearing form and:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Correct an error; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Provide omitted or additional information; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Ensure that the new or revised Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form or Notice of Inmate Disciplinary Hearing form is served on the defendant in accordance with the service process under this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>To correct a minor error or omission to a Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form or Notice of Inmate Disciplinary Hearing form (for example a name or date or the absence of a signature or date) or attach new or additional information, staff may complete a matter of record form, memorandum, or correspondence addressed to and received by the defendant explaining the correction or providing a copy of the new or additional information.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Referral for Informal Resolution.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If a shift supervisor, shift commander, facility representative, or hearing officer determine that a defendant charged only with Category III, IV or V violations should be offered an informal resolution, the defendant may be offered either an:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Informal disposition with a sanction; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Incident report without sanction.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The shift supervisor, shift commander, facility representative, hearing officer, or any other staff is not required to offer a defendant charged with only a Category III, IV, or V inmate rule violation an informal resolution.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An informal resolution may be offered any time before the completion of a formal disciplinary proceeding before a hearing officer including, but not limited to, before or during the preliminary hearing or case presentation portion of the disciplinary proceeding before the hearing officer.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A defendant is not required to accept an informal resolution and may reject the offer and request a formal disciplinary proceeding before a hearing officer.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>A defendant’s acceptance of an offer of an informal resolution shall mean the defendant accepts and agrees with the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Waiver of the formal disciplinary proceeding under the inmate disciplinary process;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Offer of informal resolution;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Proposed sanction, if applicable;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Placement of the defendant’s Notice of Inmate Rule Violation form and Notice of Informal Resolution form in the defendant’s case record; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Waiver of the right to appeal the informal resolution disposition for each inmate rule violation charged.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>The defendant’s acceptance of a hearing officer’s offer of an informal resolution on the audio record of the defendant’s disciplinary proceeding shall constitute the defendant’s acceptance of and agreement with the offer.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>A defendant’s refusal to accept an offer of informal resolution shall be the defendant’s:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Rejection of the offer of informal resolution; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Request for the hearing officer to proceed with a formal disciplinary proceeding under the inmate disciplinary process to resolve the inmate rule violation charged.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>If the managing official, or a designee, believes the offer of informal resolution made to the defendant is in error, the managing official, or a designee, may remand the matter to the hearing officer assigned to the facility for a review.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>A hearing officer receiving a remanded informal resolution shall determine if the informal resolution is in compliance with requirements for informal resolution and if finding that the informal resolution is:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Not permitted, proceed with the defendant’s disciplinary proceeding; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Permitted, affirm the informal resolution and conclude the defendant’s disciplinary proceeding.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>