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Hearings Officers
Hearings Officers conduct inmate misconduct hearings, holding inmates accountable for their behavior through a matrix of sanctions that may include the loss of privileges, fines and disciplinary segregation time as well as other sanctions. Hearings Officer must be independent, fair and impartial fact finders in making their determinations. While the majority of their hearings are disciplinary in nature, Hearings Officers also conduct involuntary administrative housing hearings and involuntary Mental Health Infirmary (MHI) placement hearings. They conduct training for security and non-security staff and answer questions on a routine basis regarding the interpretation of the Oregon Administrative Rules governing the Oregon Department of Corrections.
Rule on prohibited inmate conduct and processing disciplinary actions
Prohibited inmate conduct (grids)
Hearings Support Specialists
Hearings support specialists work behind the scenes by receiving Misconduct Reports and entering the Misconduct Reports into the new Offender Management System (OMS). They schedule many different types of hearings for the Hearings Officers, enter the findings made and the sanctions imposed by the Hearings Officers into the OMS, which is made available to all DOC staff. Additionally, hearings support staff process all related paperwork received from inmates and staff, ensuring compliance with the DOC policies and procedures.
Hearings Investigators
Hearings Investigators conduct administrative investigations at the request of the Hearings Officers. Hearings Officers grant inmate requests for witnesses and investigations if the information sought, considered in a light most favorable to the inmate, would constitute a defense to the charge(s) or substantially mitigate the rule violation(s). Once the Hearings Officer has granted the request, the Hearings Investigator conducts an investigation. This can include gathering evidence in support of the hearings investigation which may include securing contraband and testimonial evidence. When the investigation is completed the assigned Hearings Investigator submits a report to the Hearings Officer who then concludes the inmate’s Hearing. Hearings Investigators are occasionally required to prepare Misconduct Reports that arise out of the hearings investigations and work closely with the departments Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in conducting unrelated inmates investigations involving criminal and administrative violations.
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