W. Va. Code R. § 90-9-8

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 25, June 21, 2024

Section 90-9-8 - Special Procedures for Allegations of Violence and Imminent Violence

8.1. An inmate alleging that he/she is in danger of imminent violence shall file a grievance to his/her unit manager or, if the unit manager is unavailable, to the shift commander. Any staff person receiving a grievance in which an inmate alleges he/she is in danger of imminent violence shall immediately forward the grievance to the unit manager or, if the unit manager is unavailable, to the shift commander.

8.2. The unit manager or shift commander upon receipt of such a grievance shall cause an immediate review to take place of the inmate's allegations and circumstances to determine whether a substantial risk of imminent violence exists. The unit manager or shift commander can refer the review to designated staff, or can have the review processed as an application for special management under Policy Directive 326.00 or processed in conjunction with any other policy directive or operational procedure which is intended to handle such claims of imminent violence.

8.3. "Imminent violence" means an act of violence which:

8.3.1. has the potential to cause substantial bodily injury or greater to the inmate, and

8.3.2. has a reasonable possibility of occurring in the immediate or near future.

8.4. An inmate alleging that he/she is in danger of imminent violence shall in the grievance set forth with specificity the nature of the threat of imminent violence and list any person who the inmate believes may cause him/her bodily injury or greater. An inmate shall receive assistance, if needed, in providing such information in writing.

8.5. As soon as possible, but no longer than within forty-eight (48) hours, the review shall make an initial response determining whether the inmate's allegations that he/she is at substantial risk of imminent violence is substantiated. If the initial review finds that the allegation of imminent violence is substantiated or is unable to find that the allegation of imminent violence is unsubstantiated, the facility shall cause appropriate action, if needed, to protect the safety of the inmate.

8.6. Within five (5) calendar days, the unit manager or shift commander shall issue a written response to the inmate's grievance. The response to the grievance shall confirm that the inmate's allegations have been reviewed or processed under Policy Directive 326.00 or appropriate operational procedure, and state whether the review substantiated the inmate's allegations and what, if any, actions have been taken in the matter. The response, however, shall not include information regarding private personnel actions.

8.7. An inmate alleging that he/she is subject to violence which is not imminent may file a grievance to his/her unit manager who shall in return cause the allegations to be reviewed. The unit manager can refer the review to designated staff, or can have the review processed as an application for special management under Policy Directive 326.00 or processed in conjunction with any other policy directive or operational procedure which is intended to handle claims of violence.

8.8. In any case where an inmate would be required to submit his/her grievance to a staff member he/she is alleging has threatened him/her with violence, the inmate shall submit the grievance to the Warden/Administrator (or if the Warden/Administrator is the individual alleged to have threatened him/her with violence, to the Commissioner). The Warden/Administrator and/or the Commissioner, as the case may be, shall assign appropriate staff to respond to the grievance.

8.9. Except for as set forth in the above special procedures, a grievance alleging violence and or imminent violence shall follow the procedures for ordinary administrative remedies.

ONE STAPLE ONLY

W. Va. Division of Corrections Inmate Grievance Form Grievance No. ______-________-______-______

________________________________ _____________ ______________

Inmate Name DOC # Date of Grievance

State Nature of Grievance / Issue to be addressed (Note 1 issue per grievance be concise file with Unit Manager NO WRITING ON BACK):

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Relief Sought (state what you want):______________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________ (The inmate may attach 1 8.5 x 11 sheet if necessary at this level only)

Inmate's Signature

*********************************************************************************************************************

Unit Manager's Response (attach additional sheet if needed)

Accepted_____ Rejected____ Reason for rejection:___________________________________________ Date:__________

Response on Merits if accepted:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________

Signature

********************************************************************************************************************

Resolved:___________ (if so initial and give copy to unit manger) Appealed to Warden/Administrator ________(initial) Date:________

If no response at initial level is included the inmate certifies that he/she has tendered this grievance as indicated above and no response has been issued at that level within the time frames set forth in Policy Directive 335.00

_______________________________________ _________________________

Inmate's Signature Date

********************************************************************************************************************

Action by Warden/Administrator:

Accepted_____ Rejected____ Reason for rejection:___________________________________________ Date:__________

Response on Merits if accepted: __ Remand to Unit for further action __ Affirm unit and/or deny grievance __ Grant the Grievance as specified

Comments___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________ ___________ (Attach additional sheet if necessary)

Warden/Administrator's SignatureDate

************************************************************************************************

Resolved:___________ (if so initial and give copy to unit manger) Appealed to Commissioner ________(initial)

If no response at warden'sl level is included, the inmate certifies that he/she has tendered this grievance as indicated above and no response has been issued at that level within the time frames set forth in Policy Directive 335.00

_______________________________________ _________________________

Inmate's Signature Date

*******************************************************************************************************************

Action by Commissioner:

Accepted_____ Rejected____ Reason for rejection:___________________________________________ Date:__________

Response on Merits if accepted: __ Affirm Warden/Administrator and deny grievance (Affix final stamp) ___Other, memo attached.

Grievance Log

Facility:_____________

Unit:___________________ Calendar Year:______________

Seq.#	Doc#	Inmate	Date Filed	Issue	Resp. Date

W. Va. Code R. § 90-9-8