Montgomery County, PA

MONTGOMERY COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

60 EAGLEVILLE ROAD

NORRISTOWN, PA 19403-1400

PHONE- (610) 630-9390

INMATE GUIDELINES

BOARD OF INSPECTORS

PRESIDENT

David Dubner

VICE PRESIDENT

Nancy T. McFarland

MEMBERS

Jude C. Pierce

Jeffrey R. Delp

Wendy Demchick-Alloy

Donald J. Gracia

ADMINISTRATION

 WARDEN

Julio M. Algarin

Assistant Warden/Custody/Operations

James A. Frey

Assistant Warden Administration

Dennis J. Molyneaux

Deputy Warden Work Release/Out Programs

Anthony Bucci

TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                                                              

BOARD OF INSPECTORS/ADMINISTRATION                      1

Table of Contents                                                      2

General Information and Policy Statement                      4

Processing                                                                4

Bail Procedures                                                          6

Telephone Privileges                                                   6

Meal Procedures                                                        8

Visiting                                                                    9

Prison Contraband, Controlled Substances                    11

Mail Privileges                                                          12

Public Defenders, Private Attorneys, Probation and Parole Officers.......................................................... 14

Commissary                                                             15

Inmate Accounts                                                     17

Medical, Dental, and Psychiatric Services                     17

Inmate Medical Financial Responsibility Program-PAY FOR MEDICAL......................................................... 18

Articles from Outside the Facility                                 19

Radios and Televisions                                              20

Recreational Library                                                  20

information Inserts

Law Library                                                             21

Law Library for Special Housing Units                           21

Religious Services, Chaplain and Religious Counseling       22

Recreation                                                              23

Personal Cleanliness                                                  23

Cleaning of Gymnasium                                              23

Request Slips                                                          24

Complaints/Requests & Grievances                              24

Discharges, Hearings, Writs of Absence from Cells          25

Notary Services                                                       25

Montgomery County Correctional Facility Task               25

Good Conduct Deductions: “GOOD TIME”                      25

Conduct                                                                 26

Rules                                                                     26

Inmates May Not Posses Contraband                           27

Inmates May Not Incite Disorder                                 27

Regulations                                                             27

Disciplinary Violations                                                29

Payment of Restitution Ordered                                  30

Disciplinary Procedures                                              30

Voluntarily Waive Disciplinary Hearing                           31

Social Services                                                        32

Education                                                               32

Work Release/Farm                                                   32

Alcoholics Anonymous                                               33

Narcotics Anonymous                                                33

Sexual Offender’s Treatment Program                           33

Montgomery County Correctional Facility Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program...         33

Earned Early Release Program (E.E.R.P.)                       33

Victim Awareness Program                                         34

Girl Scouting Beyond Bars Program                               34

Parenting Program                                                    34

Pre-Release Program                                                 35

Veteran’s Administration Drug and Alcohol Program         35

Pennsylvania Prison Society                                       35

Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole                   35

Pennsylvania Law                                                     36

ACT 84 of 1998 (Mandatory Pennsylvania State Law) Restitution, Reparation

Fees, Costs, Fines, and Penalties                      36

Inmates Serving Weekend Sentences                           37

Emergency Evacuations                                             38

Release of Excess Personal Property                            38

General Knowledge for Basics of Personal Hygiene           39

INMATE GUIDELINES

MONTGOMERY COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY - MEMORANDUM

  TO:            All Inmates

  RE:             Inmate Disturbances

  FROM:                  Julio M. Algarin, Warden

 In the event of an inmate disturbance, the Correctional Staff of this Facility will issue direct orders to all inmates as to the proper procedures to be followed in regard to

 the specific emergency situation.  

Failure on anyone’s part to comply with these direct orders will leave this administration no alternative but to consider you as an active participant of the disturbance and consequently will be treated accordingly.

Section 1. Rules and Regulations

A. The rules, regulations, and information stated below will explain what is expected of you and what may be done for you while you are detained at this Correctional Facility.  These Rules and Regulations may not cover all situations that may arise, but rather serve as a basic guide for inmate and staff safety, decent living conditions and fair treatment to all concerned.  If you do not understand these Rules and Regulations, request to speak with a Social Service Counselor assigned to your area or any Correctional Staff to explain them to you.

B. A copy of all the Rules and Regulations of  the Montgomery County Correctional Facility will be given to each inmate upon admission during the week by a Social Service Counselor upon initial contact.  These Rules and Regulations are subject to change without prior notice.  All changes of the Rules and Regulations will be posted on the bulletin board in each Housing Section. 

Section 2. Management

A. This Correctional Facility is managed by the Warden and his staff.

B. No inmate has the right to exercise supervision or control in any manner over another inmate.

Section 3. Processing

A. Immediately upon entering the Facility, the inmate will be searched.

B. Upon admission all personal property removed from the prisoner shall be listed and described in detail, item by item in the presence of the prisoner.  The Admission Officer and the prisoner shall both check the listing together and each sign a duplicate receipt form.  One copy of the receipt shall be given to the prisoner and the original filed in the property records.

C. All of the personal property of the prisoner shall be stored in a safe place until the prisoner is released or until he or she releases their property to persons designated in writing by them.  Personal Property released to persons designated by the prisoner shall be transferred only when the person is  present.

D. Prisoners shall be permitted to mail, at their own expense, items of their personal property to designated persons by submitting a Request Slip to their Social Service Counselor.

E. Two questionnaires will be completed giving the authorities pertinent information regarding your medical and personal history and then you will be showered.

F. Using information gathered, a representative of the Classification Committee will temporarily classify the inmate for custody purposes.

G. Within a reasonable period of time, a Social Service Counselor will interview the inmate, gather all pertinent information and then classify the individual for custody and treatment purposes.

H. All classification decisions will be reviewed by the Classification Committee within a reasonable period of time on working days only.

I. If an inmate disagrees with their classification, they may request a classification hearing by submitting a request slip to the Classification Committee, in care of the Major.

J. Information will be gathered, fingerprints secured, and a photograph taken.

K.  If your photo identification card has to be replaced for any reason there will be a $10.00 fee charged to your account.

L. Allowable items for inmates shall be itemized on a property record and may include any of the following:

Legal documents/papers

Prescription glasses

Small (non-spiral) address book

or list of addresses

Medical Alert Tags

Combs (no picks)

Family pictures (not to exceed 10)

Dentures

Wedding Band

Three books and or magazines

10 letters and/or cards

Religious medal (no larger than a fifty cent piece

One bible or one Koran

Underclothing (as limited) (See Section 11. Commissary

and Section 15. Articles From Outside the Facility)

Religious materials and medals (Refer to Section 20.)

Religious service, Chaplain and Religious Counseling.

M.  Upon completion of the booking process, each inmate will be issued the following articles:

Prescribed uniform                                 Admission Kit

Sheet                                                           Towel

Blanket                                                          Laundry Bag

Sneakers (only issued to               Mattress (In Section)

inmates wearing footwear

not permitted in institution)

1.  All issued items must be returned upon discharge from this facility or you will be charged the cost of the item and/or your discharge date will be delayed.

N.  After being completely processed, the inmate is entitled to a phone call.

O. The inmate will then be seen by the Medical Department within a reasonable amount of time and a screening and physical will be done.

P. All new admissions shall be temporarily housed in designated “intake” sections (classification permitting) of the Facility for a period not less than fourteen (14) days, whereas the following shall be conducted:

(1) Initial contact with Social Service Department

(2) Visiting list compiled

(3) Classification Committee Review

(4) Public Defender Application and/or contact completed

(5) Bail review

(6) Housing Assignment

Q. Visits will not be granted until at least forty-eight hours after an individual is committed to the institution.

Section 4. Bail Procedures

A. All inmates upon commitment to Montgomery County Correctional Facility will be asked whether they desire a bail bondsman providing there is a bail set on their commitment.

B. A list of bondsman will be supplied by the Social Service Department at the inmate’s request.

C. Inmates who have a status of being held for trial and are unable to post bail,

may have their name placed on a list to be seen by the Bail Director in an attempt to have their bail lowered.

D. Inmates are also encouraged to seek outside help in arranging for their release.

Section 5. Telephone Privileges

A. Telephones for inmate use are located within each housing section and certain work areas.

B. Permission to make a telephone call  must be obtained from the Officer in charge of your housing section.  Time periods are scheduled for telephone use.  Only “collect calls” will be permitted.

C. All telephone calls after the first call are a privilege.  Institutional Staff may restrict your use of the telephone.

D. Abuse , damage, or tampering of  telephones will result in loss of telephone privilege and will be brought to the attention of the Disciplinary Hearing Board.

E. Inmates are not permitted to call any County Officials.

F. In the event of an emergency situation and maximum security level is ordered, all telephones shall be turned off and no inmate will be permitted to use the telephones.

G.  INMATES MAY NOT RECEIVE INCOMING TELEPHONE CALLS OR MESSAGES, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED BY THE WARDEN, DEPUTY WARDEN, ASSISTANT WARDENS, MAJOR, CAPTAIN OR DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES.  STAFF IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED FROM PROVIDING MESSAGES TO INMATES WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORIZATION.

Section 5a.  Telephone Use and Instructions:

(1)      You must complete a Telephone System Form upon your transfer to General Population housing section.        

(2)      You will be notified by your assigned Caseworker/Counselor of your specific PIN number required for telephone use.

(3)      You will be permitted to list a maximum of ten (10) names and telephone numbers.  Please include correct area code and telephone number.  Please write clearly.

(4)      Submit your completed form into the request slip box located in your assigned housing section and permit at least forty-eight (48) hours for activation.  Until your telephone numbers have been verified and placed into the system, telephone calls cannot be processed.

(5)      It is recommended that before your transfer to General Population

                             housing assignment, that you notify your friends and relations that it may take 48 hours before you may be able to contact them again.

(6)      Telephone Usage Procedures:

(A)     REMOVE HANDSET AND LISTEN FOR DIAL TONE

(B)      ENTER YOUR PIN NUMBER THEN DIAL 0, THE AREA

CODE AND THE NUMBER YOU WISH TO CALL.

(C)     IF THE TELEPHONE NUMBER IS PERMITTED, BASED

ON YOUR APPROVED TELEPHONE LIST, THE CALL

WILL BE COMPLETED.

(D)     IF THE NUMBER DIALED IS NOT ALLOWED, YOU WILL HEAR A MESSAGE THAT SAYS “YOUR CALL CANNOT BE COMPLETED AS DIALED.”

(E)      THE CALLING PARTY WILL NOW HEAR THE NORMAL “RINGING” OF THE CALLED PARTY’S TELEPHONE.

(F)      WHEN THE CALLED PARTY ANSWERS THE TELEPHONE, THEY WILL HEAR THE MESSAGE “BELL ATLANTIC (OR AT&T) HAS A  COLLECT CALL FROM INMATE JOHN DOE AT THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.  TO REFUSE THIS CALL HANGUP.  IF THE PARTY ACCEPTS, THEY CANNOT USE CALL WAITING OR THREE-WAY CALLING FEATURES OR YOU WILL BE DISCONNECTED.   AN ADDITIONAL MESSAGE WILL NOTIFY BOTH YOU AND THE PARTY BEING CALLED THAT ALL CALLS WILL BE RECORDED AND MAY BE MONITORED, EXCEPT FOR IDENTIFIED ATTORNEY TELEPHONE CALLS.   IF THE PARTY CALLED ACCEPTS THIS CALL THEY WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO DIAL “1" NOW.

(G)     THE CALLED PARTY MAY ACCEPT THE CALL WITH

EITHER A TOUCH TONE OR ROTARY TELEPHONE.

WHEN THE CALL IS ACCEPTED THE CALLED

PARTY WILL HEAR THE MESSAGE “THANK YOU.

(H)     EITHER PARTY MAY END THE CALL BY HANGING UP.

(I)      IF THE CALLED PARTY ATTEMPTS A THREE-WAY

CALL,  AT ANY TIME, THE TELEPHONE CONTROLLER

WILL  TERMINATE THE CALL .  IF THE CALLED PARTY ATTEMPTS TO RETRIEVE A CALL USING A CALL WAITING, THE CALL WILL TERMINATE.

(J)      ACCESS TO VARIOUS NUMBERS INCLUDING THE

OPERATOR, 800, 900, 978, 411, 611, 911 AND 555-1212  ARE BLOCKED FROM THE  TELEPHONES.

(K)      THINGS THAT MAY DISCONNECT YOUR TELEPHONE

CALL INCLUDE:

OTHER PARTY ACCEPTS A CALL WAITING TONE

OTHER PARTY TRYING TO MAKE A THREE-WAY CALL

PLAYING WITH THE BUTTONS, SWITCH HOOK OR

RECEIVER DURING YOUR CALL

ANSWERING MACHINES

ALL 800 OR 900 NUMBERS

ANY NUMBER THAT DOES NOT ALLOW COLLECT

CALLS

(L)      YOU MUST INCLUDE YOUR ATTORNEY/PUBLIC

DEFENDER AS ONE OF THE TEN PERMITTED          TELEPHONE NUMBER.  YOU MUST CLEARLY IDENTIFY THAT NUMBER AS BEING YOUR ATTORNEY/PUBLIC

DEFENDER.    ATTORNEY/PUBLIC DEFENDER TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS WILL NOT BE RECORDED OR MONITORED.  ALL ATTORNEY/PUBLIC DEFENDER  TELEPHONE NUMBERS LISTED WILL BE VERIFIED BY THIS FACILITY.

(M)     IF YOU COMPLETELY FILL OUT YOUR LIST AND USE

ALL TEN ALLOWED NUMBERS, YOU CANNOT MAKE

ANY CHANGES FOR A PERIOD OF THIRTY (30) DAYS.

(N)     IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO USE ALL TEN ALLOWED

TELEPHONE NUMBERS, YOU MAY  MAKE CHANGES

AT ANY TIME UNTIL  ALL YOUR ALLOWED TEN

NUMBERS  ARE USED (LIST IS FULL).

(O)     WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM OR WISH TO

CHANGE/DELETE OR ADD A NUMBER, YOU MUST USE

THE “TELEPHONE SYSTEM DISCREPANCY FORM.”

THIS FORM CAN BE OBTAINED FROM CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, SUPERVISORS, AND/OR                            CASEWORKER/COUNSELORS.

Section 5b.  Telephone Sessions:

(1)      All telephone calls will terminate in thirty (30) minutes.

(2)      You can choose to make one telephone call up to 30 minutes in length or several calls totaling 30 minutes (example: three calls each 10 minutes in duration  - 30 minutes).

(3)      Two announcements advising you that the call will be terminated is automatic.  One is announced two minutes before the end of your call.  The second announcement is thirty seconds before the end of  your allowed 30 minutes session.

(4)      You are permitted to make a total of two (2) hours of telephone calls per day.  Four sessions are scheduled providing you, upon telephone availability, with 30 minutes during each session.

(5)      Telephone hours are posted in your housing section.

Section 6. Meal Procedures

A. One tray shall be served to each inmate in their assigned Housing Pod.

B. Each tray shall consist of one portion of each food listed in the daily menu.

C. Special diets shall be the only variation from the daily menu and this shall only be authorized by the Medical Department.

D. All trash, and cups will remain on the tray and tray lids shall be placed back on the trays when the meal is completed.

E. No food or trash from meal trays shall be thrown in the Pod trash cans.

F. Inmates who eat at tables may leave as meals are completed.

G. The assigned task worker shall collect and stack all trays and wipe off  the tables.

H. It is the sole responsibility of the inmate to be awake when meals are served.

Section 7. Visiting

A.  Visits will not be granted until at least forty-eight hours after an individual is committed to the institution.  Upon admission to MCCF, inmates may provide a list of possible visitors by submitting a Visiting List to the Social Service Counselor.  The forms are available in the housing area. Each inmate is permitted to have eight (8) individuals placed on their list. All visitors placed on the visiting list are subject to approval by the Warden or his designee.  The Warden or his designee may remove the name of any visitor from your list with cause.

B.  If you place a minor (under the age of 18) on your visiting list, you must meet with your counselor before approval can be granted for them to visit.  The facility, at the inmate’s expense, will notify the parent or guardian of the minor child, (including a child of the inmate), in writing of the inmate’s charges and that he/she is requesting they be placed on the list.  The child’s parent (not the inmate) and/or legal guardian must indicate back in writing, that he/she approves or objects to the minor visiting.  We must also receive a birth certificate and/or custody order etc., proving parental relationship and/or guardianship.  If the parent or legal guardian objects, and or no response is received, the request will be denied.  The response must be delivered to the institution through the mail.

C.  If the inmate is the child’s parent, in addition to the requirements in B, the inmate must designate who will accompany the minor and a notice will be sent to that party.  They will be placed on the visiting list along with the minor and must be approved.  In other circumstances, if a minor child is approved and comes to visit, a parent/legal guardian, County Children and Youth agency staff must accompany them, or an adult approved by the parent/legal guardian.  The parent or legal guardian must also be approved by the facility and must be in the visiting list.  Persons under 18 years old may not be left unattended in the visiting room, the waiting room, or in vehicles.

D. Any inmate who has been convicted of a sexual offense against a minor is prohibited from having a contact visit with any minor child.

E.  The following individuals are prohibited from visiting:

  1) Any employee of Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

  2) Any former employee of Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

  3) Any current active volunteer of Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

  4) Any victim of the inmate.

  5) Anyone who has a Protection from Abuse Order filed against an inmate.

  6) Any former or current contractor who has toured and or done work at the facility.

  7) Any former inmate of Montgomery County Correctional Facility.  Any person who    is currently on parole or probation from any jurisdiction.

F. Special permission, however, may be granted for ex-inmates who have been        discharged for no less than one year to visit occasionally by submitting a Request    Slip for prior approval to Deputy Warden/Custody/Operations or his designee.

G. Visiting days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday as scheduled for your specific Housing Section.

H.  Visiting hours will be posted on the bulletin board of your assigned Housing Section.

I.  All visits are contact visits except for Maximum Security, Medium Maximum Security, Pre-Hearing Segregation, Disciplinary Segregation, Administrative Segregation and Intake Classifications who shall have secured visits.

J.  Visits for inmates housed in Medical Sections shall be scheduled and approved by the Medical Department Supervisor.

K.  Any name approved and placed on your Visiting List must remain on the list for one month.

L.  If you request to review your visiting list, you must submit “Visiting List Changes” request form to the Social Service Counselor assigned to your area.  Request to review your visiting list is limited to one (1) every thirty (30) days.

M.  No name can be removed from the visiting list until one month has elapsed from date it was approved and placed on list.

N.  Changes and additions to the visiting list will be on Fridays only.

O.  Requests for changes or additions must be submitted before 3:30 P.M. on Thursdays to your assigned housing Social Service Counselor.

P.  If a particular Friday is a legal holiday, the changes will be submitted by Wednesdays at 3:30 P.M. and done on Thursday.

Q.  Only those individuals whose names have been approved and placed on the visiting list are permitted to visit.

R.  Visiting sessions are no longer than sixty (60) minutes.

(1)  Upon entering Contact Visiting Area, inmate and visitor are permitted to kiss, or embrace only during the initial contact and upon termination of visit.  During the visit, the inmate and visitor shall sit in separate seats.  Hands must remain on the table at all times.

(2)  Visitors shall be responsible for accompanying children.  Unruly or uncontrolled children shall cause visit to be immediately terminated.

(3)   All visitors must remain in Visiting Room during visit.  If necessary to leave Visiting Room for any reason, visit shall be terminated.

(4)  An inmate is permitted to have no more than four (4) visitors at one time.

(5) Visitors and inmates must maintain orderly conduct during visits, respecting the rights and  courtesy of other visitors.  Disorderly visitors or inmates shall cause termination of visits.

(6)  Inmates may not obtain any item whatsoever from visitors.

S.  When your visit is over, you must leave the Visiting Room when the Officer

supervising  the Visiting Room directs you to leave.

(1) Refusing or ignoring the direction of Staff to leave Visiting Room is a direct violation of visiting privileges.

(2) All inmates shall be stripped searched after Contact Visits.

(3) Refusal to submit to the strip search shall immediately cause the     cancellation of Contact Visiting Privileges, and shall delay the exiting of your visitor from this Facility.

T.  All first time visitors except those under five (5) years of age, must

 be photographed at this facility and an identification  badge made up.  There will be a one-time charge of $3.00 for this badge. The visitor will be given the badge and it is their responsibility to produce the badge each time they visit. Any visitor that claims they have lost their visiting I.D. card will be charged $5.00 for second photo, and $10.00 for a third photo.  A fourth card will not be issued, visitor will be restricted.  No card will be issued to the visitor without prior payment of the I.D. card.  The correctional staff are not permitted to issue temporary identification cards.

U.  The Pod Control Officer will contact you if you have a visit.

V.  When your name is called, you shall be directed to the Visiting Room.

W.  It should be noted that, as in the past, special visiting privileges would be granted to visitors who have traveled long distances and for other unusual circumstances, with prior approval and identification during the inmates assigned visiting time.

X.  Except in the most extreme circumstances, inmates in need of special visiting privileg must obtain approval in advance from theDeputy Warden/Custody/Operations.

Y.  Inmates are not permitted to carry anything into the Visiting Rooms.

Z.  All Visitors are subject to search.

AA. The maximum amount of cash accepted for an inmate during visiting times will be two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00)

BB.  The facility does not accept currency larger than a twenty-dollar ($20.00).

CC.  The facility does not accept checks.

DD.  Money Orders accepted thru mail only.

Section 8.  Prison-Contraband, Controlled Substances

ACT NO.  1995-18 (SS1), H.B. NO. 24

An Act Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for a mandatory minimum penalty for delivery of contraband to certain confined persons; and prohibiting possession of a controlled substance by an inmate.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 5123 if Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statues is amended by adding subsections to read:

5123.  CONTRABAND

(A.1) Mandatory minimum penalty-Any person convicted of a violation subsection to read:

(a) Shall be sentenced to at least two years of total confinement notwithstanding any provision of this title or any other statue to the contrary.  Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the sentencing court from imposing a sentence greater than that provided in this subsection, up to the maximum penalty prescribed by this title for a felony of the second degree.  There shall be no authority in any court to impose on an offender to which this subsection is applicable any lesser sentence than provided for in subsection (a) or to place such offender on probation or to suspend sentence.  Sentencing guidelines promulgated by the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing shall not supercede the mandatory sentences provided in this subsection.  If a sentencing court refuses to apply this subsection where applicable, the Commonwealth shall have the right to appellate review of the action of the sentencing court.  The appellate court shall vacate the sentence and remand the case to the sentencing court for imposition of a sentence in accordance with this subsection if it finds that the sentence was imposed in violation of  this subsection.

(a.2)  Possession of controlled substance contraband by inmate-prohibited.-A prisoner or inmate commits a misdemeanor of the first degree if he unlawfully has in his possession or under his control any controlled substance in violation of section 13(a) of the Controlled Substance, Drug Device and Cosmetic Act.  For purposes of this subsection, no amount shall be deemed de minimis.

(d)    Drug-sniffing animals.- Any jail or prison may use dogs or other animals trained to sniff controlled substances or other contraband for such purposes in or on any part of the jail or prison at any time.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.            Approved July 6, 1995.

Section 9. Mail Privileges

A.  Effective July 26, 1999, in compliance with Act 76 of 1998, the Inmate Guidelines, Section 8.  Mail Privileges, Page 10, will be rescinded and replaced with the following.

B. If you wish to receive mail or send mail out, you must give the Warden or his designee the authorization to open and inspect your mail.  This will be asked of you at the time of commitment.  If you agree with the facility’s request you may send and receive as much mail, including letters, packages, and publications as you desire, except where there is convincing evidence to justify the limitation for reasons of public safety, or facility order