Overview of Grievance Process

This is an overview of the grievance process folks should follow if they are survivors of medical neglect or physical abuse. It is excerpted from the PA Department of Corrections website. For the complete document go to http://www.cor.state.pa.us.

Please note that we reworded some information that we thought was confusing and hard to understand

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections has specific policies concerning the abuse of inmates by staff and any others who use the facilities and come in contact with inmates. ‘Abuse’ here is defined as: excessive force, unwarranted life-threatening action, sexual contact, or threats of physical violence against inmates. This does not include medical care issues, abuse by other inmates, the conditions of confinement, or any other wrongdoing by staff that is not listed above.

You can report allegations of abuse to any employee. Any employee who receives written or verbal notification of abuse must complete a DC-121 Part 3, Employee Report of Incident form before they leave their shift. If your complaint is not defined in the definition of abuse listed above, to our understanding, staff is not required to fill out an incident report.

For medical care problems, cases of physical abuse, or other general problems, inmates should use the grievance system. They should first attempt to resolve the issue with the staff member(s) involved.

If simple negotiation does not solve the problem, they can file an official grievance on a DC-804, Part 1 form.  These should be readily available to all inmates.  It is important that grievances be submitted to the Facility Grievance Coordinator within 15 days of the incident.  There are only a few exceptions to this time constraint, such as if the inmate has been transferred, had Authorized Temporary Absence, or some other mail delivery problem.  If the grievance is filed after 15 days from the incident, the inmate must include the valid reason it was late on the grievance form.

Once the inmate has received the Initial Review decision, it may be appealed within 10 days of the original decision.  Only issues raised in the Initial Review or determinations of frivolousness can be appealed here.  Appeals can only be filed after those 10 days under the same exceptions as with the grievance. The inmate should indicate at the top of the form that it is an appeal and include the original grievance number.  Only one appeal to the Facility Manager is allowed per grievance.

If the appeal fails and the inmate still wishes to pursue the issue, they may make a final appeal to the Secretary's Office of Inmate Grievances and Appeals.  Only issues addressed in the first appeal may be included in this one.  After the inmate receives the ruling of the appeal to the Facility Manager, they have 15 days from the date of that decision to submit the new appeal (except under the same conditions explained above), which must be addressed to: Chief, Secretary’s Office of Inmate Grievances and Appeals  Department of Corrections  2520 Lisburn Road, P. O. Box 598 Camp Hill, PA  17001-0598 This appeal must include photocopies of the original grievance, the review response, the appeal to the Facility Manager, and the Facility Manager's decision.  This appeal also cannot be made unless an Initial Review and its appeal have been pursued.