DOC 379.03(15)(15) “Mail” includes materials such as letters, other items of correspondence and packages processed through the United States postal service or courier including but not limited to United Parcel Service, Federal Express and Dunham Express, and letters and other items of correspondence processed within an institution.

DOC 379.03(17)(17) “Modified confinement” means restriction of a youth to the youth’s assigned room with a minimum of 4 hours of out-of-room time per day.

DOC 379.03(18)(18) “No-contact visiting” means visitation during which no physical contact is permitted between a youth and a visitor.

DOC 379.03(19)(19) “Obscene material” means a writing, picture, sound recording or film, about which all of the following are true:

DOC 379.03(19)(a)(a) The average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find it appeals to the prurient interest if taken as a whole.

DOC 379.03(19)(b)(b) Under contemporary community standards, describes or shows sexual conduct in a patently offensive way.

DOC 379.03(19)(c)(c) Lacks serious literary, artistic, political, educational or scientific value, if taken as a whole.

DOC 379.03(21)(21) “Representative of the news media” means any person 18 years old or older who is a credentialed member of the press, including broadcast or print journalism, who visits an institution for the purpose of investigation and reporting.

DOC 379.03(22)(22) “Restitution” means payment owed by a youth to a victim, the court or the department pursuant to s. 938.34 (5) (a) or (8d), Stats.

DOC 379.03(23)(23) “Secretary” means the secretary of the department of corrections or that person’s designee.

DOC 379.03(24)(24) “Special events” means activities beyond regularly scheduled program events, including but not limited to, sporting events, guest speakers, concerts or recognition events.

DOC 379.03(26)(26) “Superintendent” means the superintendent of a type 1 secured correctional facility or that person’s designee.

DOC 379.03(27)(27) “Type 1 secured correctional facility” has the meaning given in s. 938.02 (19), Stats.

DOC 379.03(28)(28) “Type 2 secured correctional facility” has the meaning given in s. 938.02 (20), Stats.

DOC 379.03(29)(29) “Youth” means a person or persons supervised by the department in an institution consistent with the requirements of law, regardless of age.

DOC 379.04(1)(1) Policy. Communication fosters reintegration into the community and the maintenance of family ties. A youth may communicate with government offices, courts, approved family members and other persons concerned with the youth’s welfare as approved by the superintendent and consistent with program needs and the need to protect the public.

DOC 379.04(2)(2) Correspondence list. There shall be an approved correspondence list for each youth. The list shall include the name, date of birth, address, and relationship to the youth for all approved correspondents.

DOC 379.04(2)(b)(b) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, only individuals on a youth’s approved list will be permitted to correspond with the youth. To the extent compatible with program goals and institution needs, a youth shall be permitted to correspond with close family members. If the superintendent grants prior approval, other relatives, friends, or interested persons may also correspond with the youth.

DOC 379.04(3)(a)(a) Mail addressed to youth shall be promptly delivered, except as provided in this section.

DOC 379.04(3)(b)(b) Incoming mail to a youth, except as provided in sub. (5), may be opened, read and inspected for contraband, if the youth consents in writing to receive mail through institution mail services. Contraband shall not be delivered and shall be returned to the sender, unless it is a violation of the laws of Wisconsin or the United States to possess the contraband, in which case, the contraband shall be disposed of as provided in s. DOC 376.17.

DOC 379.04(3)(c)(c) If a youth does not consent under par. (b), the institution shall return incoming mail addressed to the youth to the post office unopened and marked “refused.”

DOC 379.04(3)(d)(d) If a letter has no return address, it shall be opened, inspected and read to identify the sender and determine if the sender is on the approved correspondence list. If the sender cannot be identified, the mail will be disposed of consistent with institution procedures.

DOC 379.04(3)(e)(e) If incoming mail is not given to the youth, the mail and a written notice stating why the mail was not delivered shall be promptly sent by the superintendent to the sender. The mail and written notice will not be sent if the sender is a youth or an adult under the supervision of or in the custody of the department. The youth to whom the letter was sent shall be given a written notice within 3 working days that the mail was not delivered, the reason for non-delivery and the identity of the sender.