La. Admin. Code tit. 22 § I-329

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section I-329 - Offender Marriage Requests

A. Purpose. To establish the secretary's policy concerning offender marriage requests.

B. Applicability. Deputy Secretary, Chief of Operations, Assistant Secretary, Regional Wardens, and Wardens. Each warden is responsible for ensuring that appropriate unit written policy and procedures are in place to comply with the provisions of this regulation.

C. Policy. It is the secretary's policy that offender marriage requests be handled pursuant to the procedures of this regulation.

D. Procedures

1. An offender's request to be married should be submitted to the warden for review.

2. The warden, chaplain, or other person designated by the warden, shall conduct a minimum of one counseling session with the offender and the fiancé marriage requirements. Documentation of the session(s) shall be maintained by the person who conducted the session(s).

3. The offender must appropriately certify that both parties meet all legal qualifications for marriage. The burden of proof rests with the offender to gather this information.

4. Should the chaplain choose not to perform the marriage, he should so inform both parties. Only approved and licensed authorities (clergy, judges and justices of the peace) will be permitted to perform the ceremony.

5. If both parties are incarcerated in correctional institutions, the marriage may be postponed until one of them has been released.

6. The offender making the request must pay for all costs associated with the marriage.

7. Absent unusual circumstances related to legitimate penological objectives, the warden or designee should approve the marriage request and set an appropriate time and place for the ceremony. Furloughs will not be granted for a marriage.

La. Admin. Code tit. 22, § I-329

Promulgated by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Corrections Services, Offices of Adult and Juvenile Services, LR 11:1093 (November 1985), amended by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Corrections Services, LR 31:1099 (May 2005), amended by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Corrections Services, LR 34:2407 (November 2008).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 15:823.