Regulation .02 General Procedures.

If a State or federal court receives a grievance from a grievant, the State or federal court may refer the grievance to the Office.

The Executive Director shall conduct a preliminary review of each grievance properly filed with the Office.

If a grievance arises from a disciplinary proceeding, the grievant shall properly exhaust all Division or Patuxent Institution appeal procedures before filing the grievance with the Office.

If the administrative remedy procedure applies to a particular situation or occurrence, the grievant shall properly exhaust the administrative remedy procedure before filing a grievance with the Office.

The Executive Director, when conducting a preliminary review of a grievance, and the administrative law judge conducting a hearing concerning a grievance shall liberally consider the circumstances of the grievance when determining if the grievance is properly before the Office.