240 R.I. Code R. 240-RICR-30-00-2.6

Current through December 26, 2024

Section 240-RICR-30-00-2.6 - Changes to Inmate Telephone Number Lists

A. Inmate may request changes to their telephone lists:

1. Social number changes: The System Administrator provided by the vendor of the monitoring system is responsible for entering updated information as submitted.

2. Attorney number changes: The System Administrator provided by the vendor of the monitoring system is responsible for entering updated information as it is submitted.

3. Change requests may also be considered (on a case-by-case basis) for the following reasons:

a. family emergency;

b. call recipient's telephone number changes;

c. newly acquired telephone number for inmate's mother, father, spouse and/or child(ren);

d. as determined by the RIDOC

B. General Rules

1. The Warden of each facility determines the hours of telephone availability and ensures said hours are posted in all housing units.

2. Telephone calls (excluding attorney calls) are restricted to no more than twenty (20) minutes per call.

3. The length of time between calls may be established if necessary to provide orderly availability of telephones.

C. Monitoring / Recording

1. Monitoring/recording of inmate telephone conversations occurs for the purposes of:

a. preserving institutional order and security; and/or

b. enhancing/conducting investigative operations.

2. SIU staff is primarily responsible for monitoring inmate telephone calls. All other persons requesting access to the telephone monitoring area need authorization from the Assistant Director of Institutions & Operations.

3. The Central Office Warden shall develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which details the random and targeted monitoring of inmate telephone conversations. The SOP shall further detail access to the telephone monitoring room/equipment. This SOP shall be presented to the Assistant Director of Institutions and Operations (ADIO) within 30 days of the effective date of this policy.

D. Information Sharing

1. Subpoenas for inmate telephone recordings are served at the Office of Legal Counsel. Constables attempting to serve such subpoenas directly to SIU are re-directed to the Office of Legal Counsel. The Office of Legal Counsel forwards the subpoena to either SIU or to Telecommunications, depending on the nature of the request.

2. State and municipal police agencies, as well as the Department of the Attorney General, are permitted access to recordings when requested in writing, only for the purposes of criminal investigations. Law enforcement agencies must include the assertion in their request that these recordings will not be disseminated to any other agency. These written requests are directed to the SIU. SIU staff forwards a copy of the request to the Office of Legal Counsel. (See, Sample Investigatory Request.)

3. SIU Investigators handle administrative requests on a case-by-case basis.

4. Random or general access to monitored telephone conversations by outside law enforcement is PROHIBITED.

5. SIU Investigators copy conversations to be used as evidence to CD-R's, and provide said copies to the agency involved.

a. SIU Investigators maintain a log of all subpoena(e) or administrative requests. Such duplicate CD-R's released to law enforcement agencies are fully tracked and receipted as appropriate.

6. The System Administrator may periodically monitor calls for maintenance or quality control purposes. Such monitoring is done in the presence of an SIU member.

240 R.I. Code R. 240-RICR-30-00-2.6