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 make available single occupancy cells for incarcerated individuals who would not be appropriately housed in multiple cells/rooms.

   
   

3. ‌APPLICABILITY

   
   

   This policy is applicable to all employees of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) who may be involved in the placement of incarcerated individuals in housing areas. For reception centers, the requirements of this policy are in addition to the requirements noted in the ODRC Policy 52-RCP-01, Reception Admission Procedures.

   
   

4. ‌DEFINITIONS

   
   

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

   
   

   Definitions Link

   
   

   • Permanent Single Occupancy Cell Restriction

   • Single Occupancy Cell

   • Temporary Single Occupancy Cell Restriction

5. POLICY

   
   

   It is the policy of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) to provide that single-occupancy cells/rooms shall be made available, when indicated, for incarcerated individuals with severe medical disabilities or certain infectious diseases, those suffering from certain serious mental illnesses, incarcerated individuals identified as sexual predators within the prison setting, those likely to be

   exploited or victimized by others or incarcerated individuals who have other special needs for single housing.

   
   

6. PROCEDURES

1. An incarcerated individual may be assigned a temporary or permanent single occupancy cell/room restriction for the following reasons:

   
   

   1. Medical disability or infectious disease requiring single occupancy celling as authorized by the chief medical officer of the institution.

      
      

   2. Serious mental illness requiring temporary single occupancy celling as authorized by the mental health administrator/mental health manager or psychiatrist.

      
      

   3. The incarcerated individual has been identified as a sexual predator within the prison setting, in that they have been found guilty by the Rules Infraction Board (RIB) of sexually predatory behavior or convicted of a crime identified with sexual predation while in prison.

      
      

   4. Staff has reason to believe or have identified the individual as someone who is likely to be exploited or victimized.

      
      

   5. The incarcerated individual has other special needs that have been identified and the managing officer or designee has approved a single cell.

      
      

2. An incarcerated individual may be assigned a temporary single occupancy cell/room restriction by the following staff:

   
   

   1. RIB Chairman

   2. Shift Commander

   3. Chief of Security

   4. Deputy Warden

   5. Mental Health Administrator/Mental Health Manager or Psychiatrist

   6. Registered Nurse or Physician

   7. Managing Officer/designee

3. Permanent single occupancy cell/room restrictions shall be recommended by the following staff:

   
   

   1. Chief Medical Officer

   2. Other staff designated by the managing officer

      
      

      Authorization for permanent single occupancy cell/room restrictions shall only be made by the deputy director of Prisons.

      
      

4. The assignment of either a temporary or permanent single occupancy cell/room restriction shall always be made based on professional assessment, correctional judgment, and all other relevant information available at the time. The process for such an assignment shall be as follows:

   1. A Single Occupancy Cell/Room Restriction (DRC2697) shall be completed by the staff authorizing/recommending the restriction and forwarded to the managing officer for authorization. The original Single Occupancy Cell/Room Restriction (DRC2697) shall be forwarded to the Count Office, where the necessary move(s) shall be accomplished as soon as practical. If the recommendation is for a permanent single occupancy cell/room restriction, the Single Occupancy Cell/Room Restriction (DRC2697) shall be forwarded to the deputy director of Prisons for final approval.

      
      

   2. The Count Office shall flag the restriction to ensure appropriate future action.

      
      

   3. A copy of the Single Occupancy Cell/Room Restriction (DRC2697) shall be forwarded to appropriate staff to be maintained in the incarcerated individual’s:

      
      

      1. Unit File

      2. RIB File

      3. Medical or Mental Health File, if applicable.

         
         

   4. The cell/room of an incarcerated individual with a restriction shall be identified in such a manner that staff can be readily aware of the single occupancy nature of the housing assignment. For those instances where general population inmates have permanent single cell/room restrictions, only one bunk shall be placed in the cell/room.

      
      

5. Removal of a Temporary or Permanent Single Occupancy Cell/Room Restriction

   
   

   1. Justification for the removal of a temporary single occupancy cell/room restriction shall be documented on the Single Occupancy Cell/Room Restriction (DRC2697) by the office initiating the restriction and forwarded to the managing officer for authorization.

      
      

   2. Only the deputy director of Prisons shall approve the removal of a permanent single occupancy cell/room restriction. Should an incarcerated individual with a permanent single occupancy cell/room restriction be transferred to another facility, the managing officer of the receiving institution shall examine the need for the single occupancy cell/room restriction at the receiving institution. If the reason for the single occupancy cell/room restriction no longer justifies the restriction at the receiving institution, the managing officer shall document the justification for the removal on the Single Occupancy Cell/Room Restriction (DRC2697) and submit the form to the deputy director of Prisons for final approval of the removal.

      
      

   3. The original Single Occupancy Cell/Room Restriction (DRC2697) shall be forwarded to the Count Office for temporary and permanent/removals. A copy of all Single Occupancy Cell/Room Restriction (DRC2697) shall be forwarded to appropriate staff to be maintained in the incarcerated individual’s:

      
      

      1. Unit File

      2. RIB File

      3. Medical or Mental Health File, if applicable.

Referenced ODRC Policies:

52-RCP-01 Reception Admission Procedures

Referenced Forms:

Single Occupancy Cell/Room Restriction DRC2697