SECTION 450:15-3-6. Right to communication

(a)   Every consumer shall be allowed to contact one individual immediately upon entry into such place of detention or admission for purposes of notification of the consumer's location (43A O.S. § 5-201).

(b)   Every consumer is entitled to communicate by uncensored, sealed mail.

(1)   Each program shall provide writing materials and reasonable amounts of postage to ensure correspondence can be written and mailed for those consumers who cannot procure the same.

(2)   The facility director may establish procedure regarding the mailing, delivery and opening of consumer mail if determined necessary for security or safety precautions. A consumer's correspondence may be restricted as determined by the treatment team. Either occurrence shall be documented in the consumer's record.

(3)   No correspondence shall be placed in the consumer's record or any program record without the written consent of the consumer.

(c)   Every consumer is entitled to unimpeded, private and uncensored communication by telephone and by personal visit with persons of his or her choice.

(1)   Each program shall make telephones readily available within the facility to ensure calls can be conveniently made and received.

(2)   Each program shall establish in writing reasonable times and places for the use of telephones and for visitation and communicate such to consumers and the consumer's family or friends. Each program shall post hours for visitation. Requests for telephone usage or visitation outside the established hours shall be addressed on an individual basis by the consumer's treatment team.

(3)   Telephone usage and visitation may be limited as determined by the treatment team for a therapeutic reason and documented in the consumer's record. Limitations shall be reviewed at each treatment team meeting and shall not continue longer than therapeutically necessary. Limitations shall not be for punitive reason.

[Source: Amended at 10 Ok Reg 4093, eff 7-26-93; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 1478, eff 7-1-99; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 1363, eff 7-1-02; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 2110, eff 7-1-03; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 1726, eff 7-1-04; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 1420, eff 7-1-07]