Prison Glossary of Terms - "A"
Prison Terminology Explained
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GLOSSARY OF PRISON TERMS
Parole Absconder: A parolee who has been granted parole by the Parole Board and who has escaped from custody of the DOC executive director. Parole Board: A board appointed who has absolute discretion to grant, deny, set conditions, continue, or revoke parole for a DOC offender. Parole Board Mittimus: The document issued by the Parole Board ordering the modification, continuance, or revocation of parole status for a violation of a condition(s) of parole. Parole Board Review | Hearing: The Parole Board session in which the Board reviews cases for consideration of release to parole and the conditions of such release decisions. Parole Board Waiver: The form used for an offender's request for waiving personal appearance before the State Parole Board. This shall apply only to discretionary parole cases. Parole Directive: An order given by a community parole officer to a parolee that is designated to clarify or enforce an existing condition of parole, or modification of parole, already set by the Parole Board. Parole Eligibility Date (PED): The earliest possible parole release date which is established by length of sentence, computation of time served, good time credits earned and/or lost, and governed by statute. Parole Hold: Offender DOC accounts are frozen to elective withdrawals seven days prior to the offender's discharge or parole date. Parole Revocation Hearing: An administrative hearing held to determine whether or not a parolee has violated a condition of parole and, if guilty, to determine what sanctions to impose. These hearings are conducted by a member of the Parole Board, an administrative law judge, or an administrative hearing officer on contract with the Parole Board. Parole Violation: A violation, or alleged violation ,of any condition as set by the Parole Board. Parolee: A person committed to the custody of the executive director of the Department of Corrections, who has been officially assigned to parole status by the Parole Board, or an interstate parolee being supervised in any state. Partial Expungement: Erasure or striking out of specified portions of a document or documents. Pat Search (Pat down): Consists of the removal of outer protective clothing, the emptying of pockets, the physical search of an offender or visitor, screening by any device which does not require disrobing and the inspection of papers, bags, books, or other items being carried. Pat searches of male offenders may be conducted by DOC employees or contract workers of either sex; female offenders may only be pat searched by female DOC employees or contract workers, unless a cross-gender pat search is necessitated by an emergency or immediate security concern. Perimeter Search: Search of areas outside of the correctional facility such as parking lots, delivery areas, reception areas, yards, fields, and perimeter fence areas. Person of Interest: The offender who is the subject of the record. Physical Count: Confirmation by a DOC employee/contract worker of offenders' physical presence through the visual observance of a living, breathing person. Physical Custody: Any person who is placed under arrest will be taken into physical custody. Arrest means that a person is not free to leave and that the arresting officer has the intent of placing the person into the custody of a jail or other detention facility. Physical Evidence: Any physical material which may serve as proof in establishing that a crime or violation has been committed. Physical Search: Any person, to include visitors and citizens, taken into physical custody by a DOC employee will be searched incident to arrest. This search will involve the removal and inspection of outer protective layers of clothing, emptying and inspection of pockets, and the search of any items or premises within the direct control of the person at the time of arrest. All persons taken into the custody of the DOC will be searched prior to transport. Plethysmograph: A device that measures erectile responses in males to both appropriate and inappropriate stimulus material. Polydrug Test: Drug tests that screen for the presence of a variety of drugs. Positional Asphyxia: Breathing impairment caused by a person's body being placed/restrained in such a position that respiratory functions are restricted. This usually occurs when a person is positioned face down, or on their belly. Doing so could possibly cut off the oxygen supply by pressing down on their lungs Possess: To knowingly exercise physical control over an object. Knowledge should be conclusively presumed when an object is found on an offender's person, his clothing, or in plain view. Knowledge should be reputably presumed when an object is found anywhere in an offender's cell or in a place where it is likely that only the offender could have placed it. This presumption may be rebutted by evidence that the offender was not responsible for the object's presence. Offenders are presumed responsible for items found in a common area in a multi-occupancy cell. The presumption of responsibility can be rebutted if proven otherwise. 150-01)Post: A location, an area, or an accumulation of tasks requiring surveillance, supervision, or control by DOC employees specifically assigned. Preponderance of Evidence: Evidence which is of greater weight or more convincing than the evidence which is offered in opposition to it; that is evidence which as a whole shows that the fact sought to be proved is more probable than not. Primary Jurisdiction: The agency who first obtained custody of an offender. Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003: Federal statute enacted in September 2003 requiring all correctional institutions to assess all incarcerated offenders, whether adult or juvenile, for propensity to commit sexual violence and potential to be victimized by sexual violence and investigate and prosecute those crimes. Private Prisons: Contracted prisons within the state. Private Security Agency: A private firm contracted to provide security/offender supervision services to DOC. Privileges: Include, but are not limited to, single cell occupancy, television, radio, tokens, snacks, hobby work/tools, typewriters, and appliances such as hot pots, fans, and coffee pots. Probable Cause: The existence of specific, objective facts which warrant a reasonably cautious person to believe an offense and/or rule violation has occurred. Probable cause is more than mere suspicion but less than the quantum of evidence required for conviction. Professional Respect: Placing a value on the "rights" of others to maintain beliefs, practices, and authorized personal faith property that may differ from one's own. Public Record: All writings made, maintained, or kept by the state or any agency, institution, or political subdivision thereof for use in the exercise of functions required or authorized by law or administrative rule or involving the receipt of expenditure of public funds. Punitive Segregation: A disciplinary sanction that may be imposed only after a specific disciplinary hearing has taken place, in accordance with administrative regulations. |
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