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Home My WebLink AboutInternal ReviewsIdaho Department of Correction Standard Operating Procedure Title: Internal Reviews 1 of 4 125.002 Version: 1 Adopted: 06/11/2026 Chad Page, Chief of Institutions and Operations, approved this document and it was published on 06/11/2026. Open to the public: Yes No SCOPE This standard operating procedure (SOP) applies to all Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) work locations, including prisons, community reentry centers (CRCs), privately managed facilities, and probation and parole districts. Version Summary Version 1: This is a new SOP which details the process of internal reviews. TABLE OF CONTENTS Scope ....................................................................................................... 1 Table of Contents ........................................................................................ 1 A. Legal Authority ....................................................................................... 1 B. Board of Correction IDAPA Rule ................................................................. 2 C. Governing Policy Statement ...................................................................... 2 D. Purpose ................................................................................................ 2 E. Responsibility ......................................................................................... 2 F. Definitions .............................................................................................. 2 G. Standard Procedures ............................................................................... 3 1. Investigations and Reviews of Significant Events ...................................... 3 2. Internal Review Objectives and Findings ................................................. 3 3. Internal Review Authorization and Organization ....................................... 3 4. Internal Review Procedures .................................................................. 4 H. References ............................................................................................ 4 A. LEGAL AUTHORITY 1. Idaho Code § 20-217A, Appointment of Director – Salary – Powers and Duties 2. Idaho Code § 20-219, Probation and Parole Supervision and Training – Limited Supervision - Rulemaking Control Number: 125.002 1 Internal Reviews Page Number: 2 of 4 Idaho Department of Correction 3. Idaho Code § 20-244, Government and Discipline of the Correctional Facility – Rules and Regulations B. BOARD OF CORRECTION IDAPA RULE None C. GOVERNING POLICY STATEMENT 1. It is the policy of the Idaho Department of Correction to review all significant events to determine the appropriateness of the response and the opportunity for improvement. 2. Each report will be reviewed by the appropriate administrator, as identified by SOP, to determine if policy and procedures were followed and if changes need to be made in existing policy and procedures. The report will include any actions taken or recommended to address the circumstances leading to the significant event. D. PURPOSE The purpose of this SOP is to establish standards and processes for conducting Internal Reviews (IRs). E. RESPONSIBILITY 1. Facility Head or designee a. Assign a chairperson (and panel members) for IR. b. Develop and implement response action plans, as needed, for IR findings. F. DEFINITIONS 1. Client: A person who has been convicted of a crime against the laws of the state and is on probation supervision as ordered by the court or parole supervision as ordered by the Commission of Pardons and Parole. The term client includes any use in Idaho law, Board of Correction rule, or IDOC policy or procedure of the terms “offender(s),” or any other term referring to a person on probation or parole supervision by the Board of Correction. 2. Facility: A building or residence — including the property and land where the building or residence is located — owned, leased, operated, or managed by the Board or Department. 3. Facility Head: The person primarily responsible for overseeing, managing, or operating a department facility. 4. Resident: A person who has been convicted of a crime against the laws of the state and ordered into the care and custody of the Board of Correction. Resident includes any use in Idaho law, Board of Correction rule, or IDOC policy or procedure of the terms “offender(s),” “prisoner(s)”, “inmate(s)”, “incarcerated person(s)”, or any other term referring to a person residing in a correctional facility in the care and custody of the Board of Correction. Control Number: 125.002 1 Internal Reviews Page Number: 3 of 4 Idaho Department of Correction 5. Staff: Any employee, volunteer, intern, or other authorized person who provides specific services, as assigned or requested by a superior, to meet Department tasks. G. STANDARD PROCEDURES 1. Investigations and Reviews of Significant Events a. When a significant event occurs, it is important to review the facts of the event to determine if department policies and SOPs were followed and to improve practices and procedures for the future. b. IDOC uses several different processes for formal reviews. Facility and division leadership will determine which process to use in a specific circumstance. i. Internal Review ii. Serious Incident Review (see SOP 125.001, Serious Incident Reviews). iii. Case Review: May be used for significant events occurring in a Probation & Parole district (see SOP 701.04.02.010, Case Reviews: Probation & Parole). iv. Administrative Investigation: Completed by the SIU per SOP 150.01.01.006, Administrative Investigations. 2. Internal Review Objectives and Findings a. IRs are used for any incident or circumstance involving a staff, visitor, resident, or supervised individual, occurring in a facility, or involving a department program which a facility head or designee wants reviewed formally. b. If the findings identify any issues—such as training deficiencies, policy noncompliance or the need for policy clarification or alignment, equipment concerns, staffing issues, or other matters that may impact the agency or other facilities—the facility head must forward the Internal Review Report to the division deputy chief or designee for review and escalation. 3. Internal Review Authorization and Organization a. The facility head or designee authorizes an IR. b. The facility head or designee will appoint a chairperson and may also appoint up to two additional staff to conduct the IR. Staff conducting the IR must be equivalent to a sergeant or section supervisor or above. The IR must be documented using the Internal Review Report. i. Normally, staff from within the affected work unit may conduct the IR, unless the facility head requires otherwise due to an actual or apparent conflict of interest or other circumstances. c. It is important that reviews be completed in a timely manner as determined by the facility head or designee. Control Number: 125.002 1 Internal Reviews Page Number: 4 of 4 Idaho Department of Correction 4. Internal Review Procedures a. When authorizing an IR, the facility head or designee must also define the IR’s objectives and timeline and appoint a chairperson (and, optionally, one two additional panel members) to conduct the review. b. The IR chairperson must gather any records relevant to the IR objectives such as Internal reports resident or client records; orders, logbook entries; photos, video, or audio recordings; emails or phone calls; applicable SOPs, field memoranda, or post orders; and external reports. c. The IR chairperson (or panel) should interview relevant staff as needed to meet the IR objectives. d. The IR chairperson (or panel) must provide a written report of the review findings and recommendations to the facility head using the Internal Review Report form. e. The facility head or designee must review the IR report and develop a response action plan as needed. ii. If the IR reveals any deficiency or issue potentially affecting another facility or division, the facility head must forward the IR report to the division deputy chief or designee for review and escalation. f. Once an IR report been signed, it cannot be altered. Any amendments, additional information, or corrections to an IR report must be made using the SIR/IR Supplemental Report. g. The facility must maintain all IR reports in accordance with procedures for sensitive documents in SOP 108.002, Records Retention and Destruction. H. REFERENCES 1. Forms a. Internal Review Report b. SIR/IR Supplemental Report 2. Cited Documents a. SOP 108.002, Records Retention and Destruction b. SOP 125.001, Serious Incident Reviews c. SOP 150.01.01.006, Administrative Investigations d. SOP 701.04.02.010, Case Reviews: Probation & Parole – End of Document –