Inmate Rights, Privileges, and Responsibilities

You have the right to:

• Be treated impartially and justly

• A nutritionally adequate diet

• Clean, adequately fitting clothes 

• Personal grooming choices regarding appearance, which are limited only by institutional requirements for safety, security, identification or hygiene

• Receive and send mail, including sealed correspondence with public officials, attorneys, officers of the court, and other members of the legal system, subject to necessary limitations

• Have visits with civilians within the guidelines established for the program

• Be addressed by name rather than in a derogatory manner

• Be supervised by staff, not inmates

• Be free from corporal punishment, deliberate personal injury, deliberate property damage, harassment or use of excessive force by staff 

• Be free from discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, sex, age, physical or mental limitations or political views in administrative decisions and access to programs, services and privileges

• Have access to a grievance system

• Have access to counsel through unmonitored telephone calls (upon request from your attorney

• Unrestricted correspondence with attorneys 

• The opportunity for private visits with your attorney, except where reasons for restrictions exist

• Have access to legal materials 

• Exercise, except when correctional interests dictate 

• Voluntary access to clergy and religious services

• Have access to healthcare

You will have the opportunity to many privileges, however they may be restricted or denied to you, as a result of abuse or the privilege, unacceptable institutional adjustment, misconduct or to ensure the orderly operation of the facility. These privileges may include, but are not limited to:

• Commissary 

• Day room activities

• Recreational activities

• General use of the collect call telephones

• Participation in programs

An inseparable component of all your rights and privileges are your responsibilities. For example, although you have the right to be free of unreasonable searches, you have the responsibility to cooperate with any member of staff who is conducting a search of your cell or person. Should you believe that the search was unreasonable, you may file a complaint, after the fact. Generally, your behavior should be the same as that which is expected of any good citizen in the community. You should:

• Respect others when speaking to them

• Obey the rules of the institutional community

• Obey the laws of the civilian community

• Refrain from infringing upon anothers rights or privileges

• Cooperate with staff at all times

• Be familiar with all the rules and regulations of the institution.