Part V. Residents' Rights
Article 6
Records
6VAC35-101-650. Prohibited actions.
A. The following actions are prohibited:
1. Discrimination in violation of the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and state and federal statutes and regulations;
2. Deprivation of drinking water or food necessary to meet a resident's daily nutritional needs, except as ordered by a licensed physician for a legitimate medical purpose and documented in the resident's record;
3. Denial of contacts and visits with the resident's attorney, a probation officer, the regulatory authority, a supervising agency representative, or representatives of other agencies or groups as required by applicable statutes or regulations;
4. Any action that is humiliating, degrading, or abusive, including but not limited to any form of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment;
5. Corporal punishment, which is administered through the intentional inflicting of pain or discomfort to the body through actions such as, but not limited to (i) striking or hitting with any part of the body or with an implement; (ii) pinching, pulling, or shaking; or (iii) any similar action that normally inflicts pain or discomfort;
6. Subjection to unsanitary living conditions;
7. Deprivation of opportunities for bathing or access to toilet facilities, except as ordered by a licensed physician for a legitimate medical purpose and documented in the resident's record;
8. Denial of health care;
9. Denial of appropriate services and treatment;
10. Application of aversive stimuli, except as permitted pursuant to other applicable state regulations; aversive stimuli means any physical forces (e.g., sound, electricity, heat, cold, light, water, or noise) or substances (e.g., hot pepper, pepper sauce, or pepper spray) measurable in duration and intensity that when applied to a resident are noxious or painful to the individual;
11. Administration of laxatives, enemas, or emetics, except as ordered by a licensed physician or poison control center for a legitimate medical purpose and documented in the resident's record;
12. Deprivation of opportunities for sleep or rest, except as ordered by a licensed physician for a legitimate medical purpose and documented in the resident's record;
13. Use of pharmacological restraints; and
14. Other constitutionally prohibited actions.
B. Employees shall be trained on the prohibited actions as provided in 6VAC35-101-190 (required initial training) and 6VAC35-101-200 (retraining); volunteers and interns shall be trained as provided in 6VAC35-101-300 (volunteer and intern orientation and training); and residents shall be oriented as provided in 6VAC35-101-800 (admission and orientation).
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7, and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.
6VAC35-101-655. Vulnerable populations..
A. The facility shall implement a procedure for assessing whether a resident is a member of a vulnerable population.
B. If the assessment determines a resident is a vulnerable population, the facility shall implement any identified additional precautions such as heightened need for supervision, additional safety precautions, or separation from certain other residents. The facility shall consider on a case-by-case basis whether a placement would ensure the resident's health and safety and whether the placement would present management or security problems.
C. For the purposes of this section, vulnerable population means a resident or group of residents who have been assessed to be reasonably likely to be exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally (e.g., very young residents; residents who are small in stature; residents who have limited English proficiency; residents who are gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, or intersex; residents with a history of being bullied or of self-injurious behavior).
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7, and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.
6VAC35-101-660. Residents' mail.
A. A resident's incoming or outgoing mail may be delayed or withheld only in accordance with this section, as permitted by other applicable regulations, or by order of a court.
B. Staff may open and inspect residents' incoming and outgoing nonlegal mail for contraband. When based on legitimate interests of the facility's order and security, nonlegal mail may be read, censored, or rejected in accordance with written procedures. The resident shall be notified when incoming or outgoing letters are withheld in part or in full.
C. In the presence of the recipient and in accordance with written procedures, staff may open to inspect for contraband, but shall not read, legal mail. Legal mail shall mean any written material that is sent to or received from a designated class of correspondents, as defined in procedures, which shall include any court, legal counsel, or administrators of the grievance system, the governing authority, the department, or the regulatory authority.
D. Staff shall not read mail addressed to parents, immediate family members, legal guardians, guardian ad litems, counsel, courts, officials of the committing authority, public officials, or grievance administrators unless permission has been obtained from a court or the facility administrator or his designee has determined that there is reasonable belief that the security of the facility is threatened. When so authorized, staff may read such mail in accordance with written procedures.
E. Except as otherwise provided, incoming and outgoing letters shall be held for no more than 24 hours and packages for no more than 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays.
F. If requested by the resident, postage and writing materials shall be provided for outgoing legal correspondence and at least two other letters per week.
G. First-class letters and packages received for residents who have been transferred or released shall be forwarded.
H. Written procedure governing correspondence of residents shall be made available to all staff and residents and shall be reviewed annually and updated as needed.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7, and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.
6VAC35-101-670. Telephone calls.
Telephone calls shall be permitted in accordance with procedures that take into account the need for security and order, resident behavior, and program objectives.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7, and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.
6VAC35-101-680. Visitation.
A. A resident's contacts and visits with family or legal guardians shall not be subject to unreasonable limitations, and any limitation shall be implemented only as permitted by written procedures, other applicable regulations, or by order of a court.
B. Residents shall be permitted reasonable visiting privileges, consistent with written procedures, that take into account (i) the need for security and order, (ii) the behavior of the residents and visitors, (iii) the importance of helping the resident maintain strong family and community ties, and (iv) whenever possible, flexible visiting hours.
C. Visitation procedures shall be provided upon request to the parent or legal guardian, as appropriate and applicable, and the residents.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7, and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.
6VAC35-101-690. Contact with attorneys, courts, and law enforcement.
A. Residents shall have uncensored, confidential contact with their legal representative in writing, as required by 6VAC35-101-660 (residents' mail), by telephone, or in person. Reasonable limits may be placed on such contacts as necessary to protect the security and order of the facility. For the purpose of this section a legal representative is defined as (i) a court appointed or retained attorney or a paralegal, investigator, or other representative from that attorney's office or (ii) an attorney visiting for the purpose of a consultation if requested by the resident.
B. Residents shall not be denied access to the courts.
C. Residents shall not be required to submit to questioning by law enforcement, although they may do so voluntarily.
1. Residents' consent shall be obtained prior to any contact with law enforcement.
2. No employee may coerce a resident's decision to consent to have contact with law enforcement.
3. Each facility shall have procedures for establishing a resident's consent to any such contact and for documenting the resident's decision. The procedures may provide for (i) notification of the parent or legal guardian, as appropriate and applicable, prior to the commencement of questioning; and (ii) opportunity, at the resident's request, to confer with an attorney, parent or legal guardian, or other person in making the decision whether to consent to questioning.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7, and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.
6VAC35-101-700. Personal necessities.
A. At admission, each resident shall be provided the following:
1. An adequate supply of personal necessities for hygiene and grooming;
2. Size appropriate clothing and shoes for indoor and outdoor wear;
3. A separate bed equipped with a mattress, a pillow, blankets, bed linens, and, if needed, a waterproof mattress cover; and
4. Individual washcloths and towels.
B. At the time of issuance, all items shall be clean and in good repair.
C. Personal necessities shall be replenished as needed.
D. The washcloths, towels, and bed linens shall be cleaned or changed, at a minimum, once every seven days and more often, if needed. Bleach or another sanitizing agent approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency to destroy bacteria shall be used in the laundering of such linens and table linens.
E. After issuance, blankets shall be cleaned or changed as needed.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7, and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.
6VAC35-101-710. Showers.
Residents shall have the opportunity to shower daily.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7, and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.
6VAC35-101-720. [Reserved].
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7, and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.
6VAC35-101-730. Residents' privacy.
Residents shall be provided privacy from routine sight supervision by staff members of the opposite sex while bathing, dressing, or conducting toileting activities, except when constant supervision is necessary to protect the resident due to mental health issues involving self-injurious behaviors or suicidal ideations or attempts. This section does not apply to medical personnel performing medical procedures or to staff providing assistance to residents whose physical or mental disabilities dictate the need for assistance with these activities as justified in the resident's record.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7, and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.
6VAC35-101-740. Nutrition.
A. Each resident, except as provided in subsection B of this section, shall be provided a daily diet that (i) consists of at least three nutritionally balanced meals and an evening snack, (ii) includes an adequate variety and quantity of food for the age of the resident, and (iii) meets minimum applicable federal nutritional requirements.
B. Special diets or alternative dietary schedules, as applicable, shall be provided (i) when prescribed by a physician or (ii) when necessary to observe the established religious dietary practices of the resident. In such circumstances, the meals shall meet the minimum applicable federal nutritional requirements.
C. Menus of actual meals served shall be kept on file for at least six months.
D. Staff who eat in the presence of the residents shall be served the same meals as the residents unless a special diet has been prescribed by a physician for the staff or residents or the staff or residents are observing established religious dietary practices.
E. There shall not be more than 15 hours between the evening meal and breakfast the following day, except when the facility administrator approves an extension of time between meals on weekends and holidays. When an extension is granted on a weekend or holiday, there shall never be more than 17 hours between the evening meal and breakfast.
F. Food shall be made available to residents who for documented medical or religious reasons need to eat breakfast before the 15 hours have expired.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7, and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.
6VAC35-101-750. Reading materials.
A. Reading materials that are appropriate to residents' ages and levels of competency shall be available to all residents.
B. Written procedure shall be developed and implemented governing resident access to publications.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7, and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.
6VAC35-101-760. Religion.
A. Residents shall not be required or coerced to participate in or unreasonably denied participation in religious activities.
B. Procedures on religious participation shall be available to residents.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7, and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.
6VAC35-101-770. Recreation.
A. The detention center shall have a written description of its recreation program that describes activities that are consistent with the detention center's total program and with the ages, developmental levels, interests, and needs of the residents that includes:
1. Opportunities for individual and group activities;
2. Opportunity for large muscle exercise daily;
3. Scheduling so that activities do not conflict with meals, religious services, educational programs, or other regular events;
4. Provision of a variety of equipment for each indoor and outdoor recreation period; and
5. Regularly scheduled indoor and outdoor recreational activities. Outdoor recreation will be available whenever practicable in accordance with the facility's recreation program. Staff shall document any adverse weather conditions, threat to facility security, or other circumstances preventing outdoor recreation.
B. The recreational program shall (i) address the means by which residents will be medically assessed for any physical limitations or necessary restrictions on physical activities and (ii) provide for the supervision of and safeguards for residents, including when participating in water-related and swimming activities.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7, and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.
6VAC35-101-780. Residents' funds.
A. The facility shall develop and implement written procedures for safekeeping and for recordkeeping of any money that belongs to residents.
B. Residents' funds shall be used only (i) for their benefit; (ii) for payment of any fines, restitution, costs, or support ordered by a court; or (iii) to pay restitution for damaged property or personal injury as determined by the disciplinary process.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7, and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.
6VAC35-101-790. Fundraising.
Residents shall not be used in fundraising activities without the written permission of the legal guardian and the consent of residents.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7, and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.