Control of prisoners; when court may enter order affecting conditions of confinement of prisoner; labor on public works; medical care of prisoners.
1. The sheriff of each county has charge and control over all prisoners committed to his care in the respective county jails, and the chiefs of police and town marshals in the several cities and towns throughout this State have charge and control over all prisoners committed to their respective city and town jails and detention facilities.
2. A court shall not, at the request of any prisoner in a county, city or town jail, issue an order which affects the conditions of confinement of the prisoner unless, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the court provides the sheriff, chief of police or town marshal having control over the prisoner with:
(a) Sufficient prior notice of the court’s intention to enter the order. Notice by the court is not necessary if the prisoner has filed an action with the court challenging his conditions of confinement and has served a copy of the action on the sheriff, chief of police or town marshal.
(b) An opportunity to be heard on the issue.
Ę As used in this subsection, “conditions of confinement” includes, but is not limited to, a prisoner’s access to the law library, privileges regarding visitation and the use of the telephone, the type of meals provided to the prisoner and the provision of medical care in situations which are not emergencies.
3. The sheriffs, chiefs of police and town marshals shall see that the prisoners under their care are kept at labor for reasonable amounts of time within the jail or detention facility, on public works in the county, city or town, or as part of a program of release for work established pursuant to NRS 211.120 or 211.171 to 211.200, inclusive.
4. The sheriff, chief of police or town marshal shall arrange for the administration of medical care required by prisoners while in his custody. The county, city or town shall pay the cost of appropriate medical:
(a) Treatment provided to a prisoner while in custody for injuries incurred by a prisoner while he is in custody and for injuries incurred during his arrest for commission of a public offense if he is not convicted of that offense;
(b) Treatment provided to a prisoner while in custody for any infectious, contagious or communicable disease which the prisoner contracts while he is in custody; and
(c) Examinations required by law or by court order conducted while the prisoner is in custody unless the order otherwise provides.
5. A prisoner shall pay the cost of medical treatment for:
(a) Injuries incurred by the prisoner during his commission of a public offense or for injuries incurred during his arrest for commission of a public offense if he is convicted of that offense;
(b) Injuries or illnesses which existed before the prisoner was taken into custody;
(c) Self-inflicted injuries; and
(d) Except treatment provided pursuant to subsection 4, any other injury or illness incurred by the prisoner.
6. A medical facility furnishing treatment pursuant to subsection 5 shall attempt to collect the cost of the treatment from the prisoner or his insurance carrier. If the facility is unable to collect the cost and certifies to the appropriate board of county commissioners that it is unable to collect the cost of the medical treatment, the board of county commissioners shall pay the cost of the medical treatment.
7. A sheriff, chief of police or town marshal who arranges for the administration of medical care pursuant to this section may attempt to collect from the prisoner or the insurance carrier of the prisoner the cost of arranging for the administration of medical care including the cost of any transportation of the prisoner for the purpose of medical care. The prisoner shall obey the requests of, and fully cooperate with the sheriff, chief of police or town marshal in collecting the costs from the prisoner or his insurance carrier.
Last modified: February 26, 2006