2006 Code of Virginia § 53.1-32 - Treatment and control of prisoners; recreation; religious services

53.1-32. Treatment and control of prisoners; recreation; religious services.

A. It shall be the general purpose of the state correctional facilities toprovide proper employment, training and education in accordance with Chapter18 ( 22.1-339 et seq.) of Title 22.1 and 53.1-32.1, medical and mentalhealth care and treatment, discipline and control of prisoners committed ortransferred thereto. The health service program established to providemedical services to prisoners shall provide for appropriate means by whichprisoners receiving nonemergency medical services may pay fees based upon aportion of the cost of such services. In no event shall any prisoner bedenied medically necessary service due to his inability to pay. The Boardshall promulgate regulations governing such a program.

B. The Director shall provide a program of recreation for prisoners. TheDirector may establish, with consultation from the Department of MentalHealth, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, a comprehensivesubstance abuse treatment program which may include utilization ofacupuncture and other treatment modalities, and may make such programavailable to any prisoner requiring the services provided by the program.

C. The Director or his designee who shall be a state employee is authorizedto make arrangements for religious services for prisoners at times as he maydeem appropriate. When such arrangements are made pursuant to a contract ormemorandum of understanding, the final authority for such arrangements shallreside with the Director or his designee.

(Code 1950, 53-33, 53-94; 1970, c. 648; 1982, c. 636; 1992, c. 740; 1993,c. 768; 1995, cc. 766, 821; 1998, c. 798.)