28 C.F.R. § 541.20 Justification for placement in disciplinary segregation and review of inmates in disciplinary segregation.
Title 28 - Judicial Administration
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, an inmate may be placed in disciplinary segregation only by order of the Discipline Hearing Officer following a hearing in which the inmate has been found to have committed a prohibited act in the Greatest, High, or Moderate Category, or a repeated offense in the Low Moderate Category. The DHO may order placement in disciplinary segregation only when other available dispositions are inadequate to achieve the purpose of punishment and deterrence necessary to regulate an inmate's behavior within acceptable limits. (b) The Warden may temporarily (not exceeding five days) move an inmate to a more secure cell (which may be in an area ordinarily set aside for disciplinary segregation and which therefore requires the withdrawal of privileges ordinarily afforded in administrative detention status, until a hearing before the DHO can be held) who (1) is causing a serious disruption (threatening life, serious bodily harm, or property) in administrative detention, (2) cannot be controlled within the physical confines of administrative detention, and (3) upon advice of appropriate medical staff, does not require confinement in the institution hospital for mental or physical treatment, or who would ordinarily be housed in the institution hospital for mental or physical treatment, but who cannot safely be housed there because the hospital does not have a room or cell with adequate security provisions. The Warden may delegate this authority no further than to the official in charge of the institution at the time the move is necessary. (c) The Segregation Review Official (SRO) (see §541.16(d)) shall conduct a hearing and formally review the status of each inmate who spends seven continuous days in disciplinary segregation and thereafter shall review these cases on the record in the inmate's absence each week and shall conduct a hearing and formally review these cases at least once every 30 days. The inmate appears before the SRO at the 30-day hearings, unless the inmate waives the right to appear. A waiver may be in writing, signed by the inmate, or if the inmate refuses to sign a waiver, it shall be shown by a memorandum signed by staff and witnessed by a second staff member indicating the inmate's refusal to appear at the hearing. Staff shall conduct a psychiatric or psychological assessment, including a personal interview, when disciplinary segregation continues beyond 30 days. The assessment, submitted to the SRO in a written report, shall address the inmate's adjustment to surroundings and the threat the inmate poses to self, staff and other inmates. Staff shall conduct a similar psychiatric or psychological assessment and report at subsequent one-month intervals if segregation continues for this extended period. (d) The Segregation Review Official may release an inmate from disciplinary segregation earlier than the sanction initially imposed upon finding that continuation in disciplinary segregation is no longer necessary to regulate the inmate's behavior within acceptable limits or for fulfilling the purpose of punishment and deterrence which initially resulted in the inmate's placement in disciplinary segregation status. The SRO may not increase any previously imposed sanction.
Title 28: Judicial Administration
PART 541—INMATE DISCIPLINE AND SPECIAL HOUSING UNITS
Subpart B—Inmate Discipline and Special Housing Units
§ 541.20 Justification for placement in disciplinary segregation and review of inmates in disciplinary segregation.
