Section 504.12 Definitions

Section 504

Section 504.12  Definitions

"Chief

Administrative Officer" means the highest ranking official of a

correctional facility.

"Department"

means the Department of Corrections.

"Director"

means the Director of the Department.

"Employee", for the

purpose of this Part, means any Department employee, contracted employee,

employee of a vendor, or a volunteer.

"Investigative Status"

means a confinement status in which an offender's movement may be restricted

while an incident or matter is being investigated.

"Offender"

means a person committed to the Department or to the custody of the Department.

"Seriously Mentally Ill",

for the purpose of this Part, means an offender is seriously mentally ill if he

or she, as a result of a mental disorder as defined in the current edition of

the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) of the American

Psychiatric Association, exhibits impaired emotional, cognitive or behavioral

functioning that interferes seriously with his or her ability to function

adequately except with supportive treatment or services.  These individuals

also must either currently have, or have had within the past year, a diagnosed

mental disorder, or must currently exhibit significant signs and symptoms of a

mental disorder.  A diagnosis of alcoholism or drug addiction, of developmental

disorders, or of any form of sexual disorder shall not, by itself, render an

individual seriously mentally ill.  The combination of either a diagnosis or

significant signs and symptoms of a mental disorder and an impaired level of

functioning, as outlined in this definition, is necessary for one to be

considered seriously mentally ill

iagnosis of alcoholism or drug addiction, of developmental

disorders, or of any form of sexual disorder shall not, by itself, render an

individual seriously mentally ill.  The combination of either a diagnosis or

significant signs and symptoms of a mental disorder and an impaired level of

functioning, as outlined in this definition, is necessary for one to be

considered seriously mentally ill.  Whether a person meets the criteria of seriously

mentally ill is initially determined by a comprehensive, professional clinical

assessment by a Department Mental Health Professional in order to determine if

the individual has a diagnosable mental disorder as defined by the current DSM

and to establish the person's overall level of functioning.  The appropriate

threshold to establish level of functioning that equates to a serious mental

illness includes serious impairments in capacity to recognize reality in work,

school or learning environments; frequent problems with the authority/rules;

occasional combative behavior; serious impairments in relationships with

friends and family; serious impairments in judgment, thinking and mood; and

serious impairment due to anxiety.  These disturbances must be observed in at

least one of the listed areas.

"Temporary Confinement"

means a confinement status in which an offender may be placed until a

determination is made as to whether a disciplinary report or investigative

report is to be issued, or pending a disciplinary hearing.