.0201 GENERAL Chapter: A Section: .0200 Title: Conduct of Employees

Prisons employees must be persons of sound moral character. In dealing with inmates and the public, they must firmly establish authority yet show themselves worthy of trust by maintaining unimpeachable conduct on and off duty.

 (f) Personal Dealings with Inmates

(1) Employees will maintain a quiet but firm demeanor in their dealings with inmates and will not indulge in undue familiarity with them. Whenever there is reason for discussing an inmate's problems with him, employees will exhibit a helpful but professional attitude. No employee will discuss his or her personal affairs with an inmate.

 (2) Employees will not borrow anything from or lend anything to nor accept gifts or personal services from, nor barter or trade with any inmate, except as specifically authorized by law, regulations, or directive. Employees will not tip an inmate. Employees will not make gifts or perform personal services for inmates not in keeping with authorized operations. It is a criminal offense for any person to sell or give any inmate any intoxicating drink, barbiturate or stimulant drug, or any narcotic, poison or poisonous substance, except upon the prescription of a physician, or to convey to or from an inmate any letters or oral messages or any instrument or weapon by which to effect an escape, or that will aid in an assault or insurrection, or to trade with an inmate for clothing or stolen goods or to sell or give an inmate any article forbidden by Prisons rules to include tobacco and or mobile cellular devices. Employees committing a criminal offense will be dismissed from the service and their appropriate superior officer will initiate proceedings for the prosecution of the offenders. (see G.S. 14-258.1)

(3) No employee will engage in acts of horseplay or joking with inmates or deliver or send messages or engage in written personal correspondence or conversing with inmates via telephones or electronic devices.

(4) An employee shall not knowingly make or maintain contact with or in any way associate with a member of an inmate’s family or close associates, unless his/her assigned duties require such an association or unless he/she has been specifically authorized to do so by the Prisons Director or designee. If an employee is contacted by the family or close associates of an inmate, the employee will report this fact to his superior at the earliest practicable time.

(5) An employee shall not engage in sexual misconduct or harassment with an inmate as outlined in the Prison’s Inmate Sexual Abuse and Harassment Policy, F.3400.

(6) An employee shall not knowingly enter into a personal relationship with an inmate, an offender under supervision, their family members, or close associates.

(7) Any employee who learns that a person with whom they have had or have had a personal relationship has come under supervision of or is incarcerated by the Department of Public Safety shall report in writing to his/her supervisor within 48 hours of learning that the person is under supervision or incarcerated. Supervision includes probation, post-release supervision, and parole. (8) Any employee involved in such personal dealings with inmates as outlined in section A.202 (f) will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.