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Control Number: <br />405.02.01.001 <br />Version: <br />6.0 <br />Title: <br />Access to Courts <br /> <br />Page Number: <br />3 of 17 <br /> <br />Idaho Department of Correction <br /> <br />The chief of the division of prisons designates a division access to courts coordinator. <br />The division of prison’s access to courts coordinator reports directly to the chief of the <br />division of prisons and is responsible for: <br />• Reviewing annual audits of state-wide legal resource centers and assisting with <br />action items necessary to bring deficiencies in line with this policy <br />• Addressing operational issues with paralegal staff <br />• Purchasing and maintaining the appropriate number of legal resource materials for <br />each legal resource center <br />• In consultation with paralegal staff, responding to requests not authorized by this <br />SOP <br />• Identifying training needs; scheduling and coordinating paralegal meetings <br />• Providing guidance to paralegal staff, facility staff, and IDOC administration <br />regarding access to courts issues <br />• Requesting clarification from the Office of the Attorney General (those representing <br />IDOC) regarding access to courts issues <br />• Requesting clarification of policy and SOP issues from division administration <br />• Identifying staff who should be granted electronic access to the IDOC network “P- <br />drive,” determining the level of access needed, issuing and maintaining the <br />appropriate level of access to the electronically stored and protected materials (IDOC <br />network “P-drive” Access to Courts folder) which contains the Qualified Legal Claims <br />Packets. This includes keeping track of permissions given to approved staff who <br />have access. <br />2. Duties of Paralegal Staff <br />The IDOC employs paralegal staff to assist inmates with qualified legal claims. Paralegal <br />duties include the following: <br />• Responding to requests described in this SOP <br />• Providing inmates with IDOC-authorized legal resources <br />• Providing inmates with Qualified Legal Claims Packets and appropriate instructions <br />• Explaining processes associated with filing legal documents with the courts <br />• Explaining processes required by federal and state court rules relevant to the <br />progression of a lawsuit. For example, filing requirements for a Complaint, Motion to <br />Dismiss, Discovery, Motion for Summary Judgment, and other court rules and <br />statutes as necessary. <br />• Providing notary services to inmates <br />• Providing translation services for non-English speaking inmates through the AT&T <br />Language Line Services to assist with the completion of initial pleadings for qualified <br />legal claims