SOP_NUMBER: 215.23
TITLE: Transitional Center Resident Cell Phones
DIVISION: Facilities Division
TOPIC_AREA: 215 Policy-Transitional Center
EFFECTIVE_DATE: 2022-07-14
WORD_COUNT: 770
POWERDMS_URL: https://public.powerdms.com/GADOC/documents/462396
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/215.23/

SUMMARY:
This policy governs the use of GDC-approved cellular phones by Work Release Residents at Transitional Centers to support reentry, employment, and family reunification. It establishes rules for phone usage, authorized locations, and consequences for misuse, including confiscation and potential charges to resident trust accounts. All communications are subject to inspection with no expectation of privacy, and cell phone privileges are non-grievable and may be revoked at the Superintendent's discretion.

KEY_TOPICS: cell phones, transitional center, work release, resident phones, mobile devices, phone privileges, reentry, family communication, cell phone rules, confiscation, security procedures, phone restrictions, disciplinary sanctions

ATTACHMENTS:
  1. Resident Request for Authorization to Maintain a Cellular Phone
     URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/215.23-att-1/
  2. Resident Agreement for Cellular Telephone Privileges
     URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/215.23-att-2/
  3. Resident Cell Phone Upgrade _ Exchange Request
     URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/215.23-att-3/
  4. Resident Cell Phone Log
     URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/215.23-att-4/

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FULL TEXT:
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|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Transitional Center Resident Cell Phones|**Policy Name:**Transitional Center Resident Cell Phones|**Policy Name:**Transitional Center Resident Cell Phones|
|**Policy Number:** 215.23|**Effective Date:** 07/14/2022|**Page Number:** 1 of 3|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner <br>|**Originating Division:**  <br>Facilities Division<br>(Transitional Center)|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|



**I.** **Introduction and Summary:**

This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will govern the use of Georgia Department
of Corrections (GDC) approved cellular phones by Work Release Residents at GDC
Transitional Centers. This SOP also explains the rules and sanctions that can be
imposed if a cellular phone is misused. Use of GDC-approved cellular phones is a
privilege and not a right. Loss of this privilege is non-grievable. All communications
sent or received via a GDC-approved cellular device are subject to inspection and
review for security reasons, and neither the sender nor receiver has an expectation of
privacy from this communication.

**II.** **Authority:**

A. O.C.G.A. § 42-5-18(b); and

B. GDC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): 215.12, Resident Personal Property,

215.04, Transitional Center Security Procedures, and Responsibilities, and 227.05,
Visitation of Offenders.

**III.** **Definitions:** None.


**IV.** **Statement of Policy and Applicable Procedures:**

A. Policy: The purpose of providing Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC)

approved cellular phones to Work Release Residents at GDC Transitional Centers
(TCs or centers) is to aid in the reentry, employment, and family reunification
process for residents.

B. Resident use of the GDC-approved cellular device:


1. All approved cellular phones will be provided by the GDC to authorized Work

Release Residents **only** .


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Transitional Center Resident Cell Phones|**Policy Name:**Transitional Center Resident Cell Phones|**Policy Name:**Transitional Center Resident Cell Phones|
|**Policy Number:** 215.23|**Effective Date:** 07/14/2022|**Page Number:** 2 of 3|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner <br>|**Originating Division:**  <br>Facilities Division<br>(Transitional Center)|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|



2. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall review the court records and

Judge’s orders of sex offenders to ensure there are no restrictions regarding
possession of a cell phone or an internet-capable device.

3. Upon arrival to the TC residents shall complete Attachment 1, Resident

Request for Authorization to Maintain a Cellular Phone, and Residents will be
allowed to update their visitation list by utilizing Attachment 5, Facility/Center
Visitation List of SOP 227.05, Visitation of Offenders in accordance with the
policy. Only those individuals approved for visitation with the offender will be
allowed to correspond with the offender via the GDC-approved cellular device.

C. Rules for use of the GDC-approved cellular device:


1. Phone usage shall be prohibited in the common areas of the center, such as

classrooms and the dining hall. The only authorized locations for cell phone
use shall be the resident rooms and on the recreation yard.

2. Phones shall not be used during count.

3. Phones MUST be set to vibrate or silent while in the center.

4. Residents are prohibited from lending, selling, or borrowing cell phones.

5. Residents shall not utilize any type of lock code on their cell phone.

6. Residents are expected to follow all workplace rules regarding cell phones.

7. Cell phones must be returned to the TC when residents are discharged from the

center or transferred to another center.

8. Residents must inform their counselor or shift OIC immediately if their cell

phone is lost, stolen, damaged, or tampered with.


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Transitional Center Resident Cell Phones|**Policy Name:**Transitional Center Resident Cell Phones|**Policy Name:**Transitional Center Resident Cell Phones|
|**Policy Number:** 215.23|**Effective Date:** 07/14/2022|**Page Number:** 3 of 3|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner <br>|**Originating Division:**  <br>Facilities Division<br>(Transitional Center)|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|



9. If a GDC provided cellular device is lost, stolen, damaged, or tampered with it

may result in the loss of device privileges and an obligation will be placed on
the offender’s trust account equal to the cost to GDC for the device.

10. GDC staff has the authority to confiscate, search, track, and/or obtain any

information concerning resident cell phones. Information may be provided to
other law enforcement agencies as requested.

11. Cell phone privileges may be revoked at the discretion of the Superintendent

or for any disciplinary reason.

**V.** **Attachments:**

Attachment 1: Resident Request for Authorization to Maintain a Cellular Phone
Attachment 2: Resident Agreement for Cellular Telephone Privileges
Attachment 3: Resident Cell Phone Upgrade/Exchange Request
Attachment 4: Transitional Center Resident Cell Phone Log


**VI.** **Record Retention of Forms Relevant to this Policy:**

Attachments 1, 2, and 3 to this policy shall be placed in the resident’s institutional file
and retained according to the retention schedule for that file. Attachment 4 shall be
maintained by the Chief of Security for one (1) year and then destroyed.