Section 309.49. Disbursement of inmate account funds.

 

(1)  General account funds, in excess of the amount specified for canteen, under s. DOC 309.52 (1) (b) , shall be disbursed by the institution business manager under sub. (3) . All disbursements shall be consistent with the purposes under s. DOC 309.45 .

(2)  Inmates may request to have general account funds disbursed for any reason. The procedure for processing inmate requests is required to be written under s. DOC 309.48 .

(3)  Requests for disbursement in excess of $25 to more than one close family member and to other persons under sub. (4) (a) may be made only with written permission of the superintendent or designee. All other disbursements are approved or disapproved by the person designated by the institution under s. DOC 309.48 (4) .

(4)  The objectives of s. DOC 309.45 may be fulfilled by disbursements of general account funds in excess of the canteen limit including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) To any source not including sources under par. (b) , (c) , (d) , or (f) only with written permission from the superintendent under sub. (3) .

(b) Twenty-five dollars or less to the inmate's one close family member once every 30 days. Such disbursements do not require approval by the superintendent.

(c) To deposit in an interest bearing account established in the inmate's name at a bank designated by the department. All interest shall accrue to the inmate. Such disbursements do not require approval by the superintendent.

(d) To purchase United States savings bonds. Bonds purchased for others are subject to the limitations under par. (b) . Bonds purchased shall be retained by the institution business manager until redeemed or until the inmate's release. Any redemption money shall be returned to the general account. Such disbursements do not require approval by the superintendent.

(e) To pay creditors' claims acknowledged in writing by the inmate and claims reduced to judgment. Such disbursements require approval by the superintendent. If necessary, the claims may be verified.

(f) To pay costs of temporary release under ch. DOC 325 and leave for qualified inmates under ch. DOC 326 . Such disbursements do not require approval by the superintendent.

(4m)  An inmate may request that the institution business office disburse release account funds. The institution business office shall disburse release account funds only for reasons consistent with the purposes under s. DOC 309.466 or subject to a lawful court order.

(5)  Before releasing an inmate to field supervision, the releasing institution shall inform the parole agent of the balances in the inmate's general account, release account under s. DOC 309.466 and segregated account, if any, under s. DOC 309.50 . The agent shall instruct the institution business manager as to where these balances shall be transferred. Following release, the former inmate may use funds formerly held in his or her institution accounts only with the approval of the agent. When the client is discharged from field supervision, any remaining funds from these accounts shall be paid to the client.

(6)  Inmates may not open charge accounts or possess charge cards.

Cr. Register, October, 1981, No. 310 , eff. 11-1-81; emerg. r. (5), eff. 5-15-86; r. and recr. (5), September, 1986, No. 369, eff. 10-1-86; EmR0920 : emerg. am. (title), cr. (4m), eff. 9-10-09; CR 09-075 : am. (title), cr. (4m) Register March 2010 No. 651 , eff. 4-1-10.