OAR 291-009-0015: Procedures

(1) Tours may be provided to: (a) College and high school level students age d 16 and over with an academic interest in state government, public services, social science, or criminal justice. Students under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an instructor. (b) Persons, including representatives of the media that have a professional interest in state government correctional programs. (c) Representatives from companies or the community who have the potential for expanding work programs, including private partnerships. (d) Family members or associates of employees or contractors. (e) Law Enforcement or other agency partners (f) Persons interested in applying or currently in the application process for the Department of Corrections including those attending hiring events or open house events. (g ) Members of that facility’s Prison Advisory Committee. (2) The minimum age to participate in a tour is 16 years of age. Unemancipated children between 16 and 18 years of age must provide an informed consent notice signed by their parent or legal guardian prior to taking the tour and be approved for tour participation by the functional unit manager. (3) Processing tour requests: (a) All requests for tours, the times, days, length, and route of the tour will be coordinated with the functional unit manager. (b) Each institution functional unit manager will designate staff to be responsible for obtaining approval, scheduling the tour, securing supervision, and notifying appropriate staff, including the functional unit manager’s office. (c) LEDS checks are required unless waived by the facility functional unit manager. Persons are required to submit the necessary information to complete the LEDS check, as outlined in DOC rule 291-016 Facility Access . (d) Tours of designated facilities may be included in the new employee orientation program. (4) Tour Standards: (a) Normally, tours will be limited to 10 persons or less per tour group; however, each functional unit manager may exceed that number depending upon the size of the facility and staff available to supervise the group. (b) Tours will normally be conducted by a Department of Corrections employee. The facility functional unit manager may designate contractors to conduct tours. The facility functional unit manager will stipulate eligibility requirements for staff and contractors to become tour guides. (c) Cameras and tape recorders may be admitted only with approval from the facility functional unit manager. Any AIC who is photographed or filmed for other than DOC purposes must sign a media consent form indicating they are a voluntary participant. (d) Former employees of the Department of Corrections are required to have an approved visitor authorization form before entering a Department of Corrections facility. (e) Any person who is now or has been an AIC of a correctional facility is required to have specific, advance written permission from the facility functional unit manager before entering a Department of Corrections facility. (f) Tour members are not permitted to wander or leave the group without an assigned escort. (g) Personal attire of tour members must meet the same minimum standards established in DOC rule 291-127 Visiting . (h) AICs and tour members may not exchange any material. (i) Failure to comply with any standards or security requirements will be sufficient reason for termination of the tour. (j) Designated tour guides will be informed of scheduled tours and provided an approved visitor authorization form. (k) Individuals wishing to tour a correctional facility may be subjected to a search in accordance with the DOC rule 291-041 Searches (Institutions ) . (l) Each person listed on a visitor authorization form must complete a facility access register and exchange one piece of current photo identification for a visitor pass. Each facility may have additional facility-specific procedures for checking visitors in and out. Acceptable photo identification includes the following: (A) Drivers license or state identification; (B) Passport; (C) State identification card (state employee or Motor Vehicle Division); (D) Military identification; (E) Student identification card; or (F) Other official governmental identification. (m) At the conclusion of the tour, the visitor pass will be exchanged for the visitor’s photo identification and the visitor will sign out on a facility access register .