TELEPHONES (INMATE)
Division 130
291-130-0005
Authority, Purpose, and Policy
(1) Authority: The authority for this
rule is granted to the Director of the
Department of Corrections in accordance
with ORS 179.040, 423.020, 423.030, and
423.075.
(2) Purpose: The purpose of this
rule is to establish uniform guidelines
governing the use of telephones by inmates.
(3) Policy: It is the policy of the
Department of Corrections to allow inmates
to make telephone calls in accordance with
the procedures outlined in this rule.
Stat Auth: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075
Stat Impl: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075

291-130-0006
Definitions
(1) Debit Call: A telephone call
placed by an inmate using funds from the
inmate’s telephone account.
(2) Legal Telephone Call: Telephone
calls between an inmate and his/her
attorney or the attorney’s documented
representative(s), legal aid bureaus or other
organizations as deemed appropriate by the
department. The department will maintain a
“legal call list” as specified in OAR 291-1300021. Calls to numbers on the legal call list
will not be subject to monitoring or recording
by the department.
(3) Officer-in-Charge: That person
designated by the functional unit manager
to supervise the facility and make
operational decisions in accordance with
policy, rule or procedure during periods
when the functional unit manager or
officer-of-the-day are not readily available.
(4) Personal Identification Number
(PIN): An assigned number used by an
inmate to access the inmate telephone
system. The number consists of the
inmate’s nine-digit telephone account
number and a five-digit number issued by
the department.
Stat Auth: ORS 179.040, 423.020,

Effective 3/13/06

423.030 and 423.075
Stat Impl: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075

PROCEDURES
291-130-0011
Operation of Inmate Telephones
(1) Inmates are required to use their
personal identification number (PIN) to
access the inmate telephone system.
(a) Inmates are responsible to
maintain security of their PIN.
(b) An inmate may not use another
inmate’s PIN.
(c)
The
department
is
not
responsible for theft, loss or costs related to
an inmate lending his/her PIN or failing to
provide for its safekeeping.
(d) An inmate’s PIN will be
terminated if it has been lost, stolen, or if in
the sole judgment of the functional unit
manager/designee, the PIN has been used
by the inmate or another person to engage
in activity that violated department rule,
state or federal law, or in other activity that
poses a threat or is detrimental to the
security, safety, health, good order or
discipline
within
a
Department
of
Corrections facility, inmate rehabilitation or
that facilitates criminal activity.
(A) If an inmate’s PIN is terminated,
the department will issue the inmate a new
PIN that allows the inmate to access the
inmate telephone system to make legal calls
only.
(B) A PIN replacement fee must be
paid for the inmate to have access to
telephone numbers on his/her personal call
list. The functional unit manager/ designee
may in his/her sole discretion waive the PIN
replacement fee if the functional unit
manager/designee determines that the PIN
was compromised through no fault of the
inmate.
(2) Personal Call List: Each inmate
shall be authorized a maximum of 40
telephone numbers on his/her personal call
list. The numbers on an inmate’s personal
call list do not include phone numbers on

DIV 130 - Page 1 of 5

the legal call list as specified in OAR 291130-0021.
(a) An inmate may add or delete
numbers on his/her personal call list by
completing an Inmate Call List form (CD
1445) and submitting it to Inmate Phones at
the department’s Central Office. Department
staff will verify each new number before
adding it to the list.
(b) Changes to the personal call list
are limited to once each month (up to five
numbers) with a maximum of 40 numbers
per calendar year.
(3) Debit Calls: The department will
establish a telephone account for each
inmate.
(a) An inmate may deposit funds in
his/her telephone account by completing an
Inmate Withdrawal Request (CD 28) and
submitting it to designated staff. Designated
staff will verify funds are available in the
inmate’s trust account, and forward the
Inmate Withdrawal Request to the Central
Trust Unit for processing. The Central Trust
Unit will forward the funds to the phone
company.
(b) An inmate shall address any
issues regarding funds in his/her telephone
account directly to the phone company.
(c) Debit calls will disconnect when
funds in an inmate’s telephone account
have been depleted.
(d) Inmates may utilize their PIN to
access their individual telephone account
balance through the inmate phone system.
Stat Auth: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075
Stat Impl: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075

291-130-0016
General Provisions
(1) All calls must be placed as
collect or debit. Only collect or debit calls
can be made from telephones designated
for inmate use.
(2) The functional unit manager or
designee has the authority to restrict
telephone calls by an inmate if the safety of
the public would be involved or the security
of the facility or safety and welfare of the

Effective 3/13/06

person to be called would be jeopardized.
(3) Inmates will not participate in
three-way or conference calls or any form of
call forwarding.
(4) Inmates shall not place charges
to third party numbers, motels, hotels,
places of business, credit cards or to
telephone company calling card numbers.
(5) If the telephone call cannot be
completed because no one answers or the
line is busy, the inmate shall hang up and
attempt another call at another time.
(6) Inmates shall not be permitted to
loiter in the surrounding area where
telephones are located.
(7) Only one inmate at a time shall
be permitted access to a telephone. The
inmate who initiates a call is the only person
authorized to converse with the contact
party during that call.
(8) Inmates may be required to sign
up on the telephone log (CD 755) to reserve
a time to use a telephone in a housing unit
or activity area when there are a large
number of inmates who want access to a
telephone, but there is a limited number of
telephones.
(9) A set of Oregon telephone
directories for major cities shall be located
in the facility library.
(10) Special Housing:
(a)
Inmates
in
disciplinary
segregation are not allowed telephone
services except for emergency calls, legal
calls as specified in OAR 291-130-0021(3)
or other calls as authorized by the functional
unit manager.
(b)
Inmates
in
Administrative
Segregation
are
allowed
telephone
services.
The
functional
unit
manager/designee will designate hours for
inmate telephone use.
(c) Inmates in an Intensive
Management Unit (IMU) are not allowed
telephone services except for emergency
calls, legal calls as specified in OAR 291130-0021(3) or other calls as authorized by
the functional unit manager. Authorization
for telephone access shall be made by the
IMU supervisor.
(d)
Inmates
in
a
Special

DIV 130 - Page 2 of 5

Management Unit (SMU) are permitted to
place calls from inmate telephone(s) in the
unit. SMU management may limit access to
telephones if the access interferes with the
inmate’s treatment.
(e) Inmates on Death Row are
allowed telephone services as authorized in
the Department of Corrections rule on
Death Row Housing Unit (OAR 291-093).
(f) Inmates in Department of
Corrections facility infirmaries are allowed
telephone services as established by the
functional unit manager.
(11)
Other
inmate
telephone
services or restrictions, not specifically
addressed in this rule, may be implemented
for safety and security reasons or as
authorized by the functional unit manager.
(12) Inmates shall report all inmate
phone repair issues as directed by the
department.
Stat Auth: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075
Stat Impl: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075

291-130-0020
Monitoring, Termination and Blocking of
Calls
(1) All calls are subject to monitoring
and recording except for legal telephone
calls.
(2) Directly above each group of
monitored telephones, a sign shall be
posted stating in English and Spanish
"Phone calls are subject to be monitored
and recorded."
(3) An inmate’s use of the telephone
system to engage in activity that is a
violation of department rules, state, or
federal law may result in disciplinary action
and possible restriction of telephone
services.
(4) The department may block
access to phone numbers used to commit a
crime or violate department rules, including
any attempt to place a three-way call or use
any form of call forwarding.
(5) An inmate’s telephone services
or individual telephone calls may be
suspended
by
the
functional
unit

Effective 3/13/06

manager/designee,
in
his/her
sole
discretion, when the functional unit
manager/designee has reason to believe
the inmate has used or may use inmate
telephone services to engage in activity that
violates department rule, state or federal
law, or to engage in other activity that poses
a threat or is detrimental to the security,
safety, health, good order or discipline
within a Department of Corrections facility,
inmate rehabilitation, or that facilitates
criminal activity.
Stat Auth: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075
Stat Impl: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075

291-130-0021
Legal Calls
(1) The department shall maintain a
list of legal telephone numbers entitled the
“legal call list.” Inmate calls to attorneys
whose telephone numbers appear on the
legal call list will not be monitored or
recorded by the department.
(a) The legal call list shall include the
official telephone numbers of all attorneys
registered with and provided to the Oregon
State Bar Association, official telephone
numbers of attorneys who have requested
and been added to the list as specified in
subsection (2) below and business
telephone numbers of other organizations
as deemed appropriate by department and
whose communication with inmates shall be
considered confidential. The list of official
numbers of attorneys registered with the
Oregon State Bar will be updated twice a
year.
(2) Upon request of an attorney
whose official telephone number is not on
the legal call list or upon request of the
attorney’s inmate client, the department will
verify the number with the appropriate state
bar and add the attorney’s official telephone
number to the list. However, the department
will not include an attorney’s home, cell or
other
telephone
number
on
the
department’s legal call list that is not the
attorney’s contact telephone number
provided to the appropriate state bar.

DIV 130 - Page 3 of 5

Deleted: ¶

Inmate calls to telephone numbers not on
the legal call list will be subject to monitoring
or recording by the department.
(3) An inmate with an active or
pending case with an imminent court
deadline of ten business days or less who
does not have regular access to the inmate
telephone system (e.g., the inmate is in
disciplinary
segregation
or
Intensive
Management Unit) may be permitted a legal
call to his/her attorney as approved by the
officer-in-charge or the inmate’s counselor.
(a) Use of Inmate Telephone
System: Designated staff will make
arrangements for the inmate to make the
call.
(b) Use of Staff Phones: Designated
staff will facilitate the call and verify the
identity of the person called. The staff
member shall leave the area where the call
is taking place; however, the inmate shall be
kept under observation. The call should be
placed as collect, if possible. Use of staff
phones for such calls shall be held to a
minimum.
Stat Auth: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075
Stat Impl: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075

291-130-0030
Emergency Calls (Staff Assisted)
(1) All requests for emergency
telephone calls from inmates, or a member
of the public due to a death or serious
illness of a person with a substantial
relationship to an inmate may be approved
by the officer-in-charge, inmate's counselor,
or the chaplain upon verification of the
emergency. Designated staff will facilitate
the call and verify the identity of the person
called. Calls shall be monitored by staff.
(2) The functional unit manager or
staff specifically designated by the
functional unit manager may approve other
emergency calls as necessary for issues
specific to the inmate. Such calls will be
handled in the same manner as in section
(1) above.
Stat Auth: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075

Effective 3/13/06

Stat Impl: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075

291-130-0050
Use of Institution Telephones
(1) Inmates inside a facility will not
answer outside lines unless specifically
authorized in writing by the functional unit
manager/designee.
(2) Inmates authorized and assigned
by a staff member may answer an institution
telephone in an assigned area. Inmates so
assigned shall answer by stating their title,
last name, location, and saying, "May I help
you." Example: "Inmate Jones, unit one,
may I help you?"
(3) Inmates may be assigned to
make telephone calls as part of their job
assignment.
Stat Auth: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075
Stat Impl: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075

291-130-0060
Location of Telephones and Hours of
Telephone Use
(1)
The
functional
unit
manager/designee shall designate hours for
inmate telephone use.
(2)
Telephones
located
in
recreational areas; i.e., yard, multi-purpose,
shall normally be available during the
normal hours inmates are allowed access to
the respective area.
(3) Locations of telephones and
hours for use of telephones shall be posted
on unit bulletin boards and included in
inmate admission and orientation material
or in inmate handbooks at all Department of
Corrections facilities.
(4) The functional unit manager may
restrict the times telephones are available to
inmates to conform to line movements,
scheduled inmate activities, meals, and staff
availability.
(5) Call durations may vary based on
the physical locations of phones as
established
by
the
functional
unit
manager/designee.

DIV 130 - Page 4 of 5

Stat Auth: ORS 179.040, 423.020,

423.030 and 423.075
Stat Impl: ORS 179.040, 423.020,

423.030 and 423.075
291-130-0080
Remaining Telephone Fund Balances
Upon Release
Remaining funds balances received
from the phone company will be deposited
to individual inmate trust accounts as per
the department’s rule on Trust Accounts
(OAR 291-158-0045) less a processing fee
imposed by the department. Funds
deposited on behalf of inmates who are
indebted to the department are subject to
collection as per OAR 291-158-0065. Any
remaining funds are disbursed to the inmate
through the Oregon Trail card or by check.
Stat Auth: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075
Stat Impl: ORS 179.040, 423.020,
423.030 and 423.075

Effective 3/13/06

DIV 130 - Page 5 of 5