Chapter DHS 94

DHS 94.19 DHS 94.19 Mail.

DHS 94.19(1) (1) Each inpatient shall be allowed to send and receive sealed mail in accordance with s. 51.61 (1) (cm) 1., Stats., and this section.

DHS 94.19(2) (2) Any inpatient who has been determined indigent under the facility’s operating policies shall, upon request, be provided with up to 2 stamped non-letterhead envelopes each week and with non-letterhead stationery and other letter-writing materials.

DHS 94.19(3) (3) Mail shall be delivered to inpatients promptly by the facility’s normal distribution procedures.

DHS 94.19(4) (4) Upon request of an inpatient or his or her guardian, mail shall be opened by a facility staff member and read to him or her. The initial request shall be documented in the treatment record.

DHS 94.19 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1987, No. 373, eff. 2-1-87; correction in (1) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2003 No. 576.

DHS 94.20 DHS 94.20 Telephone calls.

DHS 94.20(1) (1) Inpatients shall be allowed reasonable access to a telephone to make and receive a reasonable number of telephone calls as authorized by s. 51.61 (1) (p), Stats., and this section.

DHS 94.20(2) (2) Patients shall be permitted to make an unlimited number of private telephone calls to legal counsel and to receive an unlimited number of private telephone calls from legal counsel.

DHS 94.20(3) (3) 

DHS 94.20(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), each inpatient shall be permitted to make a reasonable number of private, personal calls. The number and duration of the calls may be limited for legitimate management reasons, but the facility shall provide every patient the opportunity to make at least one private, personal telephone call per day.

DHS 94.20(3)(b) (b) This subsection does not prohibit a facility under s. 980.065, Stats., from recording patients’ personal telephone calls or monitoring the resulting recordings.

DHS 94.20(4) (4) Inpatients who have been determined indigent under a facility’s operating policies shall be permitted to make telephone calls under sub. (2), and at least one private, personal call per day free of charge.

DHS 94.20(5) (5) Treatment facilities shall provide the number of regular or pay telephones necessary to meet requirements of this section, subject to restrictions imposed by local telephone companies regarding installation of pay telephones.

DHS 94.20 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1987, No. 373, eff. 2-1-87; am. (1), (3), (4), Register, June, 1996, eff 7-1-96; CR 00-151: am. (3) Register January 2002 No. 553, eff. 2-1-02.

DHS 94.21 DHS 94.21 Visitors.

DHS 94.21(1) (1) Each inpatient shall be permitted to see visitors each day, as authorized by s. 51.61 (1) (t), Stats., and in accordance with this section.

DHS 94.21(2) (2) Adequate and reasonably private space shall be provided to accommodate visitors so that severe time limits need not be set on a visit.

DHS 94.21(3) (3) Every visitor who arrives during normal visiting hours shall be permitted to see the patient unless the patient refuses to see the visitor.

DHS 94.21(4) (4) The treatment facility may require prior identification of potential visitors and may search visitors but only when there are documented security reasons for screening or searching visitors.

DHS 94.21(5) (5) Visits may not be limited to less than one hour, except under documented special circumstances.

DHS 94.21 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1987, No. 373, eff. 2-1-87.

DHS 94.22 DHS 94.22 Voting.

DHS 94.22(1) (1) The director of each treatment facility serving inpatients shall ensure that inpatients have an opportunity to vote, unless they are otherwise restricted by law from voting, by:

DHS 94.22(1)(a) (a) Surveying all patients 18 years of age or over to ascertain their interest in registering to vote, obtaining absentee ballots and casting ballots. The survey shall be conducted far enough before an election to allow sufficient time for voter registration and acquisition of absentee ballots;

DHS 94.22(1)(b) (b) Making arrangements with state and local election officials to register voters and to enable interested inpatients to cast ballots at the facility; and

DHS 94.22(1)(c) (c) With a patient’s consent, assisting election officials in determining the patient’s place of residence for voting purposes.

DHS 94.22(2) (2) A treatment facility director may not prohibit an inpatient from receiving campaign literature or placing political advertisements in his or her personal quarters and shall permit candidates to campaign during reasonably regulated times at designated locations on facility property.

DHS 94.22 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1987, No. 373, eff. 2-1-87.

DHS 94.23 DHS 94.23 Discharge of voluntary patients.

DHS 94.23(1) (1) When a voluntary inpatient requests a discharge, the facility director or designee shall either release the patient or file a statement of emergency detention with the court as provided under ss. 51.10 (5), 51.13 (7) (b) and 51.15 (10), Stats., and this section.

DHS 94.23(2) (2) If a voluntary inpatient requests a discharge and he or she has no other living quarters or is in need of other services to make the transition to the community, the following actions shall be taken by the facility director or designee prior to discharge:

DHS 94.23(2)(a) (a) Counsel the patient and, when possible, assist the patient in locating living quarters;

DHS 94.23(2)(b) (b) Inform the applicable program director, if any, of the patient’s need for residential and other necessary transitional services; and

DHS 94.23(2)(c) (c) If no living arrangements have been made by the time of discharge, refer the patient to an appropriate service agency for emergency living arrangements.

DHS 94.23 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1987, No. 373, eff. 2-1-87.

DHS 94.24 DHS 94.24 Humane psychological and physical environment.

DHS 94.24(1) (1) Clean, safe and humane environment. Treatment facilities shall provide patients with a clean, safe and humane environment as required under s. 51.61 (1) (m), Stats., and this section.

DHS 94.24(2) (2) Comfort, safety and respect.

DHS 94.24(2)(a) (a) Staff shall take reasonable steps to ensure the physical safety of all patients.

DHS 94.24(2)(b) (b) Each patient shall be treated with respect and with recognition of the patient’s dignity by all employees of the service provider and by all licensed, certified, registered or permitted providers of health care with whom the patient comes in contact.

DHS 94.24(2)(c) (c) A treatment facility may fingerprint a patient only if the patient is unknown, has no means of identification, cannot otherwise be identified and fingerprinting is required for identification. This restriction does not apply to patients transferred to the facility under s. 51.35 (3) or 51.37, Stats., or committed under ch. 971 or 975, Stats.

DHS 94.24(2)(d) (d) Only inpatients may be subjected to a body search. All body searches shall be conducted as follows:

DHS 94.24(2)(d)1. 1. A personal search of an inpatient may be conducted by any facility staff member:

DHS 94.24(2)(d)1.a. a. Before a patient leaves or enters the security enclosure of maximum security units;

DHS 94.24(2)(d)1.b. b. Before a patient is placed in seclusion;

DHS 94.24(2)(d)1.c. c. When there is documented reason to believe the patient has, on his or her person, objects or materials which threaten the safety or security of patients or other persons; or

DHS 94.24(2)(d)1.d. d. If, for security reasons, the facility routinely conducts personal searches of patients committed under ch. 971 or 975, Stats., patients residing in the maximum security facility at the Mendota mental health institute or a secure mental health unit or facility under s. 980.065, Stats., and persons transferred under s. 51.35 (3) or 51.37, Stats.;

DHS 94.24(2)(d)2. 2. A strip search of an inpatient may be conducted:

DHS 94.24(2)(d)2.a. a. Only in a clean and private place;

DHS 94.24(2)(d)2.b. b. Except in an emergency, only by a person of the same sex;

DHS 94.24(2)(d)2.c. c. Only when all less intrusive search procedures are deemed inadequate; and

DHS 94.24(2)(d)2.d. d. Only under circumstances specified under subd. 1. a. to c.;

DHS 94.24(2)(d)3. 3. A body cavity search of an inpatient may be conducted:

DHS 94.24(2)(d)3.a. a. Only in a clean and private place;

DHS 94.24(2)(d)3.b. b. Only by a physician and, whenever possible, by a physician of the same sex;

DHS 94.24(2)(d)3.c. c. Only when all less intrusive search procedures are deemed inadequate; and

DHS 94.24(2)(d)3.d. d. Only under circumstances specified under subd. 1. a. to c.

DHS 94.24(2)(e) (e) The room and personal belongings of an inpatient may be searched only when there is documented reason to believe that security rules have been violated, except that searches may be conducted in forensic units, the maximum security facility at the Mendota mental health institute or a secure mental health unit or facility under s. 980.065, Stats., in accordance with written facility policies.

DHS 94.24(2)(f) (f) Each inpatient shall be assisted to achieve maximum capability in personal hygiene and self-grooming and shall have reasonable access to:

DHS 94.24(2)(f)1. 1. Toilet articles;

DHS 94.24(2)(f)2. 2. Toothbrush and dentifrice;

DHS 94.24(2)(f)3. 3. A shower or tub bath at least once every 2 days, unless medically contraindicated;

DHS 94.24(2)(f)4. 4. Services of a barber or beautician on a regular basis; and

DHS 94.24(2)(f)5. 5. Shaving equipment and facilities.

DHS 94.24(2)(g) (g) Each patient shall be given an opportunity to refute any accusations prior to initiation of disciplinary action.

DHS 94.24(2)(h) (h) No patient may be disciplined for a violation of a treatment facility rule unless the patient has had prior notice of the rule.

DHS 94.24(2)(i) (i)

DHS 94.24(2)(i)1. 1. Each inpatient shall have unscheduled access to a working flush toilet and sink, except when the patient is in seclusion or for security reasons or when medically contraindicated.

DHS 94.24(2)(i)2. 2. Upon request of the patient, the legal guardian of an incompetent patient or the parent of a minor, staff of the same sex shall be available to assist the patient in toileting or bathing.

DHS 94.24(2)(i)3. 3. Every patient in isolation or seclusion shall be provided an opportunity for access to a toilet at least every 30 minutes.

DHS 94.24(2)(j) (j) Inpatients shall be allowed to provide their own room decorations except that a facility may restrict this right for documented security or safety reasons. Facilities may adopt policies restricting the areas where patients may display sexually explicit or patently offensive room decorations and may prohibit gang-related room decorations.

DHS 94.24(3) (3) Social, recreational and leisure time activities.

DHS 94.24(3)(a) (a) Inpatients shall be provided access to current newspapers and magazines, and shall have reasonable access to radio and television upon request, except for documented security or safety reasons.

DHS 94.24(3)(b) (b) An inpatient shall be allowed individual expression through music, art, reading materials and media except for any limitation that may be necessary for documented security or safety reasons.

DHS 94.24(3)(c) (c) Inpatients may not be prevented from acquiring, at their own expense, printed material, a television, a radio, recordings or movies, except for documented security or safety reasons.

DHS 94.24(3)(d) (d) Each inpatient shall have reasonable access to his or her own musical instruments and to art and writing supplies, along with reasonable access to appropriate space and supervision for the use of the instruments and supplies, except for documented security or safety reasons.

DHS 94.24 Note Note: Any denial or restriction of a patient’s right to use his or her personal articles is governed by s. DHS 94.05 and s. 51.61 (2), Stats.

DHS 94.24(3)(e) (e) Each inpatient shall be provided suitable opportunities for social interaction with members of both sexes, except for documented treatment, security or safety reasons.

DHS 94.24(3)(f) (f) Each inpatient shall have an opportunity for reasonable and regular access to facilities for physical exercise and shall have an opportunity for access to a variety of appropriate recreational facilities away from the living unit to the extent possible, except for any limitation that may be necessary for documented individual security or safety reasons.

DHS 94.24(3)(g) (g) Each inpatient shall be provided an opportunity to be out of doors at regular and frequent intervals, with supervision as necessary, except when health reasons or documented individual security reasons indicate otherwise.

DHS 94.24(3)(h) (h) Patients have a right to be free from having arbitrary decisions made about them. To be non-arbitrary, a decision about a client shall be rationally based upon a legitimate treatment, management or security interest.

DHS 94.24(3)(i) (i) Inpatients shall be permitted to conduct personal and business affairs in any lawful manner not otherwise limited by statute so long as these do not interfere with the patient’s treatment plan, the orderly operation of the facility, security or the rights of other patients.

DHS 94.24(4) (4) Food service.

DHS 94.24(4)(a) (a) Each inpatient shall be provided a nutritional diet which permits a reasonable choice of appealing food served in a pleasant manner.

DHS 94.24(4)(b) (b) Snacks between meals shall be accessible to inpatients on all living units, except when contraindicated for individual patients.

DHS 94.24(4)(c) (c) All inpatients shall be allowed a minimum of 30 minutes per meal and additional time as feasible.

DHS 94.24(4)(d) (d) Menu preparation shall take into account customary religious, cultural or strongly-held personal convictions of inpatients.

DHS 94.24 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1987, No. 373, eff. 2-1-87; am. (2) (b), (j), (3) (b), (f), (g), cr. (3) (h), renum. (3) (i) from HSS 94.07 (5), Register, June, 1996, No. 486, eff. 7-1-96; emerg. am. (2) (e), eff. 8-15-98; am. (2) (d) 1. d. and (e), Register, April, 1999, No. 520, eff. 5-1-99.