1. (a) Applicability. This section applies to employees and offenders of the Division of Correction and Division of Community Correction staff, inmates, and residents of community correction centers.
2. (b) Policy. It is the policy of the Board of Corrections that offenders are provided an opportunity to submit grievances regarding policy, conditions, incidents, or actions related to incarceration/confinement which directly impact them.

3. (c) Guidelines.

   1. (1) Administrative directives establishing procedures will be set forth by each division.

   2. (2) Procedures shall, at minimum provide for the following:

      1. (A) Offender notice of the grievance process;
      2. (B) Timely, effective, and impartial processing of grievances;
      3. (C) An appeals process;
      4. (D) Appropriate documentation of grievance activity; and
      5. (E) Speedy disposition of emergency situations, with security and safety the paramount concern.

   3. (3)

      1. (A) Use of the grievance procedure shall occur without:

4. (i) Restraint;

   1. (ii) Coercion;

      1. (iii) Discrimination;

         1. (iv) Interference; or
         2. (v) Reprisal.
      2. (B) Violation of subdivision (c)(3) of this section shall result in prompt and decisive action.
   2. (4) The grievance procedure shall exclude complaints regarding release, transfer, disciplinary, or other matters excluded by administrative directives.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "Section Number: Page Number: DOC 835 DCP 7.14 1 of 2 Board Approval Date: 11/14/96 Supersedes: Dated: DOC 835 2/17/94 DCP 7.14 Emerg. 2/17/94 Reference: Effective Date: 12/1/96 DOC" "I. AUTHORITY: The Board of Correction and Community Punishment (BCCP) is vested with the authority to promulgate this administrative rule by Ark. Code Ann. §§ 12-27-105, 16-93-1203 and 16-93-1205 (Michie Supp. 1995)." "V. STANDARDS: American Correctional Association Standards for Adult Community Residential Services, 3d edition, standard 3-ACRS-3D-07 and Standards for Adult Correctional Institutions, 3d edition, standard 3-4271."