La. Admin. Code tit. 22 § I-317

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section I-317 - Attorney Visits

A. Purpose- to provide uniform procedures for the approval and conduct of visits by attorneys to offenders.

B. Applicability- deputy secretary, chief of operations, regional wardens and wardens. Each warden is responsible for ensuring that appropriate unit written policy and procedures are in place to comply with the provisions of this regulation and for conveying its contents to all offenders, affected employees and attorneys seeking to visit.

C. Policy. It is the secretary's policy that attorney visits shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures of this regulation.

D. General

1. Offenders may refuse to see any attorney; such refusal shall be in writing and filed in the offender's master record.

2. A log shall be maintained of all visits by attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, law clerks and investigators.

3. Visits may be visually observed, but conversations between offenders and counsel shall not, under any circumstance, be monitored.

4. Visits between death row offenders and attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, law clerks and investigators may be non-contact at the warden's discretion.

5. Attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, law clerks and investigators are subject to searches according to established procedures, as are all other visitors.

E. Procedures

1. Approval of Attorneys. An attorney's credentials shall be verified through the State Bar Association prior to being approved to visit or initiate privileged communication with offenders.

2. Approval of authorized representatives: Paralegals, legal assistants, law clerks and investigators may be permitted to enter the institution to conduct interviews with offender clients of their supervising attorney, either with the attorney or alone. Such permission is at the discretion of the warden, who may approve or disapprove these requests. Prior to a paralegal, legal assistant, law clerk or investigator being approved to enter the grounds of the institution, the following criteria shall be met by the employing attorney:

a. The paralegal, legal assistant, law clerk or investigator must not be on the visiting list of any offender confined in a state institution (except for immediate family members).

b. A paralegal must have completed a paralegal or legal assistant study program at an accredited four-year college or junior college, or have completed a paralegal or legal assistant study program approved by the American Bar Association. (Certification by the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. as a Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) may be substituted for the aforementioned programs.)

c. The employing or supervising attorney shall submit a paralegal, legal assistant, law clerk or investigator affidavit to the warden of the institution to be visited certifying the following prior to the approval for a paralegal, legal assistant, law clerk or investigator to enter institutional grounds:

i. the individual's name, social security number and birth date;

ii. the length of time the individual has been employed or supervised by the attorney;

iii. paralegals and investigators must attach a copy of their certification or license to the affidavit, if applicable.

iv. representatives of attorneys who seek authorization to visit a client on behalf of their supervising attorney, but do not possess a certificate and/or license shall not be authorized or approved except by special permission from the warden.

d. Paralegals, legal assistants, law clerks and investigators shall complete the department's "Orientation for Legal Representatives" training prior to being allowed to visit an offender. This training may be conducted using the automated presentation on the department's website or upon arrival at the institution for an approved visit. The person taking the training on-line shall be required to submit the printable certificate of training with their affidavit. The visit may be prohibited if the required training is not completed.

e. This information shall then be verified and the attorney notified of the disposition of the request. Thereafter, for a period not to exceed one year from the date of approval, as long as the paralegal, legal assistant, law clerk or investigator continues in the employ or under the supervision of the same attorney, visits may be approved.

3. Scheduling. Visits by attorneys and their authorized representatives shall be scheduled through the institution at least 24 hours in advance.

4. Time of Visits. Visits by attorneys and their authorized representatives must normally take place Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

5. Exceptions

a. The warden may approve special visits not in conformity with Paragraphs E.1, 2, 3 and 4 when unusual circumstances warrant.

b. Any improper acts or unethical behavior with an offender during a visit may result in an attorney or their authorized representatives being denied future requests to visit an offender.

F. Limitations of Visits

1. Number of Offenders. Generally, no more than ten offenders may be seen at any one time, and no more than twenty on any one day. Further limitations may be imposed by the warden if valid reasons exist.

2. Number of Attorneys. Generally, no more than two persons (attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, law clerks or investigators or any combination thereof) may see an offender on any one day; however, the number visiting at one time may be limited based on available space and security constraints. Exceptions may be approved for good cause by the warden.

G. Exception. Nothing contained in this regulation shall apply to attorneys representing the state, the department or the institution.

La. Admin. Code tit. 22, § I-317

Promulgated by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Corrections Services, LR 26:1313 (June 2000), amended LR 31:1098 (May 2005), LR 36:2572 (November 2010).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 49:950.