SUBJECT: Reception Admission Procedures: Death Row Incarcerated Persons (IPs)

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NUMBER: 52-RCP-02

ORC/OAC REFERENCE: ORC 5120.01

SUPERSEDES:

52-RCP-06 dated 12/02/2019

RELATED ACA STANDARDS:

EFFECTIVE DATE:

November 13, 2023


APPROVED:

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  1. AUTHORITY

    Ohio Revised Code 5120.01 authorizes the Director of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, as the executive head of the department, to direct the total operations and management of the department by establishing procedures as set forth in this policy.

  2. ‌PURPOSE


    The purpose of this policy is to establish standard admission procedures regulating the acceptance and initial processing of death row incarcerated persons (IPs) at the Correctional Reception Center (CRC), Lorain Correctional Institution (LORCI) and Ohio Reformatory for Women (ORW) and to establish standard procedures regulating the initial transfer of death row IPs from either CRC or LORCI to Death Row.


  3. ‌APPLICABILITY


    This policy applies to employees at CRC, LORCI, ORW and all employees involved in the admission procedures of death row IPs. This policy also applies to those IPs sentenced to death under Ohio law.


  4. ‌DEFINITIONS


    The definitions for the below terms can be found at the top of the policies page on the ODRC Intranet.

    Definitions Link

  5. POLICY


    It is the policy of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) that CRC and LORCI shall serve as the reception centers for all males committed to the ODRC with a sentence of death under Ohio law. ORW shall serve as the reception center for all females committed to ODRC with a sentence of death under Ohio law.

  6. PROCEDURES


  1. Acceptance and Initial Processing of Male Death Row Incarcerated Persons


    1. Prior to transport, counties shall notify the institution of the date of transport of a death row IP. The security or shift supervisor shall immediately notify the office of the managing officer and the reception coordinator at CRC or LORCI.


    2. The record office staff or managing officer’s designee shall personally review the commitment papers to ensure they are certified, valid, and accurate. The IP shall also be assigned an institutional number.


    3. All IP personal property shall be inspected for contraband. Items determined to be contraband shall be processed in accordance with ODRC Policy 310-SEC-43, Handling and Disposition of Contraband. All other personal items shall be handled and processed in accordance with ODRC Policy 61-PRP-01, Incarcerated Person Personal Property.


    4. A medical and mental health screening shall be conducted in accordance with ODRC Policies 52-RCP-06, Reception Intake and Medical Screening, and 67-MNH-02, Mental Health Screening and Mental Health Classification.


    5. The death row IP shall be segregated and escorted through the reception process by the reception coordinator or shift supervisor in accordance with the procedures outlined in ODRC Policy 52-RCP-01, Reception Admission Procedures.


    6. The death row IP shall complete identification functions in accordance with ODRC Policy 52-RCP-01, Reception Admission Procedures. The death row IP will not be assigned a security classification but will be designated as “Death Row” status. The reception coordinator will enter the death row status by classifying the IP “OD” in the DOTS RCLAS screen. This can be done after the Bureau of Sentence Computation has certified their sentence.


  2. Transfer of Male Death Row Incarcerated Persons

    1. The managing officer/designee at the receiving institution shall be notified by the managing officer/designee at either CRC or LORCI of the pending transportation of a death row IP. All transportation and transfer arrangements shall be coordinated through the respective managing officer’s offices. The reception coordinator shall complete the load list to have the IP moved to the respective death row facility.


    2. The death row IP shall be dressed in clothing assigned for transportation to the receiving institution and shall be issued shoes and underwear from clothing issue. Transfers to the receiving institution shall not occur prior to completion of the mental health screening referenced above.


    3. The CRC or LORCI managing officer/designee shall notify the receiving institution of the estimated time of arrival of the death row IP. Details of the IP’s status shall be provided to the receiving institution’s managing officer at that time.

    4. The death row IP’s relevant medical and mental health information shall accompany the IP to the receiving institution.


  3. Acceptance and Initial Processing of Female Death Row Incarcerated Persons


    1. Female IPs sentenced to death shall be received and confined at the ORW. The managing officer shall immediately be notified upon the IP’s arrival at the facility.


    2. Records Office staff and/or the managing officer’s designee shall personally review the commitment paperwork to determine the IP’s appropriate commitment status. ORW shall issue an institutional number to the IP.


    3. The death row IP shall be segregated and escorted through the reception process by the reception security supervisor. The reception process shall be followed in accordance with the procedures outlined in ODRC Policy 52-RCP-01, Reception Admission Procedures. DNA testing shall be conducted in accordance with ODRC Policy 52-RCP-05, DNA Sample.


    4. After the death row IP has completed processing, the IP shall be admitted to an area designated for death row at the ORW. The cell assignment shall be made to the unit housing death row IP.


Referenced ODRC Policies:


52-RCP-01 Reception Admission Procedures 52-RCP-05 DNA Sample

52-RCP-06 Reception Intake and Medical Screening 61-PRP-01 Incarcerated Person Personal Property

67-MNH-02 Mental Health Screening and Mental Health Classification 310-SEC-43 Handling and Disposition of Contraband