Smith v. Dep't of Corr.

445 P.3d 329, 298 Or. App. 190
CourtCourt of Appeals of Oregon
DecidedJune 19, 2019
DocketA156552
StatusPublished

This text of 445 P.3d 329 (Smith v. Dep't of Corr.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Smith v. Dep't of Corr., 445 P.3d 329, 298 Or. App. 190 (Or. Ct. App. 2019).

Opinion

TOOKEY, J.

*191Petitioner, an inmate at Two Rivers Correctional Facility, challenges the validity of certain policies and administrative rules adopted by respondent, the Department of Corrections (DOC). For the reasons explained below, we conclude that the challenged policies that govern searches of dreadlocks and Native American medicine bags are not rules subject to the formalities of rulemaking because the policies set forth how DOC's validly adopted rules governing searches of religious and spiritual items, including hair and garments, necessarily operate in specific contexts; therefore, we lack jurisdiction to review the validity of either policy under ORS 183.400. Furthermore, we *331conclude that the challenged rules that reference the assignment of an "initial custody level" to inmates entering the prison system based on a Violence Predictor Score are valid.

I. STANDARD OF REVIEW

Our review of administrative rules is governed by ORS 183.400. "Under ORS 183.400(1), 'any person' may petition this court to determine the validity of a rule." Assn. of Acupuncture v. Bd. of Chiropractic Examiners , 260 Or. App. 676, 678, 320 P.3d 575 (2014). "In reviewing a challenge under [ ORS 183.400,] we may declare the rule invalid only if we conclude that it violates constitutional provisions, exceeds the statutory authority of the agency that adopted the rule, or was adopted without complying with rulemaking procedures." Id . (citing ORS 183.400(4) ).

II. SEARCHES OF DREADLOCKS AND NATIVE AMERICAN MEDICINE BAGS

Petitioner challenges the validity of two DOC policies describing guidelines and procedures for searching inmates' dreadlocks and Native American medicine bags, DOC Policy 90.2.1 and DOC Policy 90.2.2, respectively.1 Petitioner contends that those policies are rules that DOC adopted without complying with applicable rulemaking procedures.

*192A. Searches of Dreadlocks

Petitioner argues that DOC policy 90.2.1, which outlines the procedure for searching dreadlocks, is a rule that DOC adopted without complying with applicable rulemaking procedures because the "religious sincerity test" mentioned in OAR 291-041-0020 is, pursuant to DOC Policy 90.2.1, to be conducted by the prison chaplain, and "[n]o formally adopted rule requires or even suggests this delegation of responsibility." OAR 291-041-0020(9) (outlining procedures for searches of an inmate's hair, and providing for a "religious sincerity test" to determine what further action shall be taken if the "hair creates a significant security or operational concern"); DOC Policy 90.2.1.III.B.2. (the chaplain conducts the "religious sincerity test"). We disagree with petitioner.2

First, we give a brief overview of the statutes regarding DOC's rulemaking authority and the statutes and rules regarding DOC's chaplains. Under ORS 179.375, DOC "shall ensure that adequate chaplaincy services, including but not limited to Protestant and Roman Catholic, are available at their * * * institutions" and, with respect to the inmates at such institutions, the chaplains must "[p]rovide for and attend to their spiritual needs," visit "them for the purpose of giving religious and moral instruction," and "[p]articipate in the rehabilitation programs affecting them." ORS 423.075(5)(b) and (c) provide, in part, that the director of DOC shall "[a]ppoint all subordinate * * * employees * * * of the department," "prescribe their duties," and "[d]elegate to departmental employees such responsibility and authority as the director determines to be necessary[.]" See Smith v. Dept. of Corrections , 276 Or. App. 862, 866-67, 369 P.3d 1213 (2016) (discussing the broad delegative authority granted to the director under ORS 423.075 when no statutory authority prohibits the director's delegation of the particular responsibilities or authority at issue). In addition, the director may "adopt rules for the government and administration of the department," including those related to chaplains.

*193ORS 423.075(5)(d) ; see also ORS 179.040(1)(d) (DOC shall "[m]ake and adopt rules for the guidance of [DOC] and for the government of [its] institutions.").

A chaplain is defined as a "person employed by [DOC] to facilitate and provide religious programming and services to inmates in [DOC] facilities." OAR 291-143-0010(2) ; see also OAR 291-117-0008 (defining a staff chaplain as "[a] person employed full-time *332or contracted by *** [DOC] to provide religious services to inmates in [DOC] facilities").3 Because the chaplain is a person employed by DOC, and because no statutory authority prohibits the director's delegation of the authority and responsibilities at issue to the chaplain, the director can delegate that authority and those responsibilities to the chaplain as the director deems necessary.

Next, we give an overview of DOC's rules related to the chaplain's authority and responsibilities.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
445 P.3d 329, 298 Or. App. 190, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/smith-v-dept-of-corr-orctapp-2019.