Section 525.233  Procedures for Review of Publications

a)         The Facility Publication Review Officer, upon receiving a publication for an individual in custody to review from mailroom staff, shall:

1)         Notify an individual in custody when a publication received in the mailroom, addressed to the individual, is listed as disapproved or approved conditionally on the Statewide Publications Determination List, or has been found to contain contraband.  If the publication contains contraband, it shall be disposed of in accordance with 20 Ill. Adm. Code 501, Subpart C.  If the publication is listed as approved conditionally, the Facility Publication Review Officer shall advise the individual in custody that failure to authorize the removal of the unauthorized portion of the publication shall result in the entire publication being disposed of.  If the publication is listed as disapproved or approved conditionally, the Facility Publication Review Officer shall request that the individual in custody indicate whether the publication or portion of violation should be disposed of or should be mailed to an address of the individual in custody's choice at the expense of the individual in custody.  Disposal or removal of the portion in violation shall not occur prior to the objection filing deadline described in Section 525.233(c)(4) or to the conclusion of procedures described under Section 525.233(c)(4), whichever is later.  The individual in custody may file a grievance regarding a decision of the Central Publication Review Committee in accordance with 20 Ill. Adm. Code 504, Subpart F.

2)         Forward the publication to the Central Publication Review Committee if the publication was received directly from the publisher and previous notification of disapproval or conditional approval has not been provided to the publisher.  The Central Publication Review Committee shall notify the publisher.

3)         Review the publication in its entirety if it is not listed on the Statewide Publications Determination List and the content appears to violate the standards set forth in Section 525.220.

A)        If the publication does not violate the standards in Section 525.220, it shall be forwarded to the individual in custody. The Facility Publication Review Officer shall provide the title of the publication to the Central Publication Review Committee.

B)        If the publication appears to violate the standards in Section 525.220, the Facility Publication Review Officer shall forward it to the Chief Administrative Officer to review.

C)        Upon receipt of a publication received for or on behalf of a program or library, the Facility Publication Review Officer shall:

i)          Immediately forward the publication to the program coordinator or librarian to be integrated into the applicable program or library circulation if the publication does not violate the standards in Section 525.220.

ii)         Forward the publication to the Chief Administrative Officer to review.

b)         The Chief Administrative Officer shall review a publication from the Facility Publication Review Officer in its entirety.

1)         If the Chief Administrative Officer finds that the content appears to violate the standards in Section 525.220, the Chief Administrative Officer shall forward the publication to the Central Publication Review Committee for final review and determination.

2)         If the Chief Administrative Officer finds that the content does not violate the standards in Section 525.220, the publication shall be forwarded to the individual in custody, program coordinator, or librarian.

c)         Following receipt of publication from the Chief Administrative Officer, the Central Publication Review Committee shall notify the Facility Publication Review Officer, individual in custody, publisher, and program staff (as applicable), with written explanation that includes a specific rationale, that the Committee has:

1)         Entered the publication on the Statewide Publications Determinations List as approved if the publication does not violate the standards in Section 525.220.

2)         Entered the publication on the Statewide Publications Determinations List as disapproved if the publication clearly violates the standards for approval.

3)         Entered a determination on the Statewide Publications Determinations List that the publication is conditionally approved as a portion of the publication clearly violates the standards for approval.

4)         Upon receiving notice from the Central Publication Review Committee under Section 525.233(a)(2), the publisher may file an objection and submit a written supportive statement or other documentation within 35 days of the notice date.  If an objection is filed, then the Chief of Operations and Chief of Programs shall review the objection.  A written determination shall be provided to the publisher within 60 days of the Department's receipt of the objection.

d)         The Facility Publication Review Officer shall notify the individual in custody or program coordinator of the Central Publication Review Committee's decision, as applicable.

(Source:  Added at 50 Ill. Reg. 1047, effective January 9, 2026)