<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".08" citation="COMAR 12.03.03.08" title_num="12" subtitle_num="03" chapter_num="03" heading="Legal Mail.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Incoming or outgoing mail that is marked as, or purports to constitute, legal mail but does not meet the definition of legal mail shall be:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Refused and returned to sender; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If reasonable cause exists to believe that the mail has been sent for a fraudulent or criminal purpose, forwarded to the Department’s Intelligence and Investigative Division.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>When legal mail is delivered to an incarcerated individual:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>It shall be delivered to the incarcerated individual to whom it is addressed by:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Mailroom staff; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Non-mail-room staff authorized to deliver mail to an incarcerated individual;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Mailroom staff shall log receipt and disposition of the legal mail in accordance with facility procedures for logging incarcerated individual legal mail which, at a minimum, records:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The date received by the mailroom;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The incarcerated individual’s name, identification number, and housing assignment verified by the facility’s traffic and housing assignment report;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The sender’s name and address;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The number of legal mail items being delivered to an incarcerated individual;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The incarcerated individual’s acceptance or refusal of the legal mail; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>If appropriate, the disposition of legal mail refused by an incarcerated individual;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Mailroom staff shall make a photocopy of the envelope containing the legal mail; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Mailroom and correctional staff delivering the legal mail to an incarcerated individual shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Properly identify an incarcerated individual by inspecting an incarcerated individual’s facility identification card and the information from the traffic and housing assignment reports;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Open the envelope in the presence of the incarcerated individual to whom it is addressed;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Without specifically reading the contents, inspect the enclosed contents for contraband only;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Deliver the contents and the photocopy of the envelope used to send the legal mail;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Have an incarcerated individual sign a receipt for the delivery of legal mail or, if appropriate, a refusal to accept the legal mail; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Return the original envelope and the receipt or refusal for legal mail to the mailroom for disposition according to facility procedures.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>