OAR 291-153-0020: Inmate Accompaniment to Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision Hearing

(1) Inmates are permitted to have a person accompany them in hearings before the Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision in accordance with ORS 144.123. This rule establishes jointly with the Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision policies and procedures governing who may accompany an inmate before the Board. (2) When appearing before the Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision in a hearing, an inmate may be accompanied at the Department of Corrections facility in which the inmate is confined, subject to the prior approval of the facility functional unit manager or designee, by: (a) A person who has been approved for privileged visiting in accordance with the Department of Corrections rule on Visiting (Inmate) (OAR 291-127); (b) An assigned inmate legal assistant, selected in accordance with the Department of Corrections rule on Legal Affairs (Inmate) (OAR 291-139) from the Department of Corrections facility where the inmate is confined; or (c) The inmate’s attorney. (3)(a) In addition to those persons specified in subsection (2) of this rule, the inmate may be accompanied at the hearing via telephone or videoconference by such other person or persons, other than another inmate, as the Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision, in its discretion, may approve by prior arrangement. (b) The inmate may select one person to speak on his/her behalf. The statement shall not exceed 15 minutes. The presiding Board member may grant the support person additional time upon finding that further testimony is likely to be relevant to the Board’s decision. The presiding Board member may exclude or limit irrelevant, immaterial or unduly repetitious testimony and evidence. (4) The Department of Corrections, if requested by the inmate or the Board, will assign an approved inmate legal assistant from the Department of Corrections facility where the inmate is confined to accompany an inmate at a Board hearing. The selection of the inmate legal assistant shall be governed by the policies and rules of the Department of Corrections.