Every facility shall have and implement a written plan, approved by the Commission, for inmate grievance procedures. This plan shall be an administrative means for the resolution of grievances. It supplements, but does not replace any informal grievance procedure. Each plan shall:

(1) provide for the selection of member(s) to constitute a grievance board. In facilities of 50 capacity or less, this may be one person. An inmate may also be a member;

(2) provide details on what constitutes grounds for initiation of a grievance: (A) violation of civil rights; (B) criminal act; (C) unjust denial or restriction of inmate privileges; (D) prohibited act by facility staff;

(3) provide maximum time limits not to exceed 60 days with interim response not to exceed 15 days for written replies by the grievance board;

(4) provide for the expeditious handling of emergency grievances where delay could subject the inmate to personal injury or other damages;

(5) provide safeguards to prevent reprisals against the inmate in the resolution of a grievance

(6) provide for meaningful relief of a substantiated grievance (i.e., reinstatement of good time, additional visitation privileges);

(7) provide a documented appeals process if requested by the inmate by a person or persons not a member of the grievance board;

(8) provide for the release of information to inmates and employees only when specifically approved by the sheriff/operator or designee.

Source Note: The provisions of this §283.3 adopted to be effective December 20, 1994, 19 TexReg 9654; amended to be effective December 22, 1999, 24 TexReg 11520