(1) Symbols (Two Points): Hand signs, distinctive clothing, graffiti, etc., which have been certified by CDCR in accordance with Section 3378.1(f) as being used by and distinctive to specific STGs. Staff shall describe the symbol in detail. Staff shall document and disclose this information to the offender in a written form that would not jeopardize the safety of any person or the security of the institution.

(2) Association (Three Points) Information related to the offender's association with validated STG affiliates. The association shall be more than a chance encounter or an innocuous association, but rather, a pattern or history of encounters that involve STG behavior and/or an occurrence of conducting STG related business. Direct contact with a validated STG affiliate is not necessary to demonstrate this association. Staff shall articulate the basis for determining the conduct is credible evidence of association with the STG. Staff shall document and disclose this information to the offender in a written form that would not jeopardize the safety of any person or the security of the institution.

(3) Informants (Three Points): Documentation of information evidencing STG affiliation from an informant shall indicate the date of the information, whether the information is confidential or non-confidential, and an evaluation of the informant's reliability. Confidential material shall also meet the requirements established in section 3321. Staff shall articulate how the information specifically relates to the offender's involvement with the STG. The information may be used as a source of validation if the informant provides specific knowledge of how he/she knew the offender to be involved with the STG. Multiple confidential sources providing information regarding a single STG related incident or behavior shall constitute one (1) source item. Exclusive reliance on hearsay information provided by informants will not be used for validation purposes. Staff shall document and disclose this information to the offender in a written form that would not jeopardize the safety of any person or the security of the institution.

(4) Debrief Reports (Three Points): Only information referencing specific STG related acts or conduct shall be considered as a source item when utilizing information from another offender's debriefing. Confidential material obtained from a debrief report shall also meet the requirements established in section 3321. Multiple sources of information relative to a single STG related act or conduct shall be considered a single source of validation. Exclusive reliance on hearsay information provided by debriefing inmate will not be used for validation purposes. Staff shall document and disclose this information to the offender in a written form that would not jeopardize the safety of any person or the security of the institution.

(5) Written Materials (Offender identified in written material not in his possession-Two Points; Personal Possession-Four Points): Any material or documents evidencing STG behavior such as the membership or enemy lists, roll call lists, constitutions, organizational structures, codes, training material, etc., of specific STGs or addresses, names, identities of validated STG affiliates. Although the item by itself may not evidence STG behavior, when considered with other STG behavior, it gives credence to a STG nexus. Staff shall articulate why, based on either the explicit or coded content, the written material is reliable evidence of affiliation with the STG. Staff shall document and disclose this information to the offender in a written form that would not jeopardize the safety of any person or the security of the institution.

(6) Photographs (Four Points): Individual or group photographs with STG connotations such as those which include insignia, certified symbols, or other validated STG affiliates. The date or age of a photograph shall be reasonably ascertained prior to any photo being relied upon for inclusion as a source item. No photograph shall be considered for validation purposes that is estimated to be older than four (4) years. Any photograph being utilized as a source item that depicts STG affiliates shall require that at least one of the individuals be previously validated by the Department, or validated by the Department within six (6) months of the photograph's established or estimated date of origin. Staff shall document the validation date for any individual in the photograph who was validated within six months of the photograph's established or estimated date of origin. Staff shall document and disclose this information to the offender in a written form that would not jeopardize the safety of any person or the security of the institution.

(7) Staff Information (Four Points): Documentation of staff's visual or audible observations which reasonably indicate STG behavior as described in Subsections 3314 (a)(3)(L) and (M), Administrative Rules Violations, STG Contraband and Behavior; or Subsections 3315 (a)(3)(Z) and (AA), Serious Rules Violations, STG Violent, Disruptive, or Controlling Behavior. Staff shall articulate the basis for determining the content or conduct at issue is STG related. Staff shall document and disclose this information to the offender in a written form that would not jeopardize the safety of any person or the security of the institution.

(8) Other Agencies (Four Points): Information identifying STG affiliation provided by other agencies including, but not limited to, police reports, crime reports, or arrest reports evidencing STG conduct, which have not been submitted, considered, and incorporated within received court documents. Any information received from another agency shall be documented by the staff person who receives such information, citing the source and validity of the information. Staff shall document and disclose this information to the offender in a written form that would not jeopardize the safety of any person or the security of the institution.

(9) Visitors (Four Points): Visits from persons or entities that are documented as willfully promoting, furthering or assisting STG affiliates in activities associated with the STG. Staff shall articulate the basis for concluding the relationship between the visitor(s) and offender is STG related in nature or that the visitor(s) and offender engaged in conduct related to the STG. Staff shall articulate the basis for identifying the visitor(s) as associated with the STG. Staff shall document and disclose this information to the offender in a written form that would not jeopardize the safety of any person or the security of the institution.

(10) Communications (Four Points): Documentation of conversations, conversations between offenders/others, mail, notes, greeting cards, or other communication, which include explicit or coded messages evidencing STG activity. Staff shall articulate why, based on either the explicit or coded content, the communication is reliable evidence of affiliation with the STG. Staff shall document and disclose this information to the offender in a written form that would not jeopardize the safety of any person or the security of the institution.

(11) Self Admission (Five Points): Staff shall document information about an offender's verbal or written admission as an STG affiliate and/or specific involvement with the STG. Staff shall document and disclose this information to the offender in a written form that would not jeopardize the safety of any person or the security of the institution.

(12) Offenses (Six Points): When circumstances of an offense conclude that the offense was committed for the benefit or promotion of, at the direction of, or in association with an STG. Staff shall articulate the basis for determining an offense to be STG related. Multiple sources of information relative to a single incident or offense will be considered one (1) source of validation. Staff shall document and disclose this information to the offender in a written form that would not jeopardize the safety of any person or the security of the institution.

(13) Tattoos and/or Body Markings (Six Points): Tattoos and/or body markings depicting symbols that have been certified by CDCR in accordance with Section 3378.1(f) as being used by and distinctive to a specific STG. Staff shall describe the tattoo and/or body marking in detail. Staff shall document and disclose this information to the offender in a written form that would not jeopardize the safety of any person or the security of the institution.

(14) Legal Documents (Seven Points): Court transcripts, probation officer reports, or other legal documents evidencing STG conduct. Staff shall document and disclose this information to the offender in a written form that would not jeopardize the safety of any person or the security of the institution.

(1) All source criteria items referenced in the validation package shall be disclosed to the offender utilizing a CDCR Form 128-B4 (Rev. 10/17), Evidence Disclosure and Interview Notification, which is incorporated by reference. Staff shall identify which of the source items are being utilized as the direct link on the CDCR Form 128-B4. The identity of the individual being used as a direct link shall be disclosed unless it compromises the individual's safety or the safety of others. The offender shall be given copies of all non-confidential documents unless otherwise requested in writing by the offender. Confidential information used in the validation package shall be disclosed to the offender via a CDCR Form 1030 (Rev. 11/13), Confidential Information Disclosure Form, which is incorporated by reference.

(2) Offenders shall be given at least 72 hours advance notice of the validation interview. The interview with the STG Investigator or designee may be held earlier if the offender waives, in writing, the 72-hour preparation period.

(3) The offender's mental health status and/or need for staff assistance shall be evaluated prior to the interview. Staff assistance shall be assigned per guidelines set forth in section 3318.

(4) Prior to submission of a validation package to OCS, the subject of the investigation shall be interviewed by the STG Investigator, or designee, and given a meaningful opportunity to be heard in regard to the source items used in the validation.

(5) The interview shall be documented to include an evaluation and conclusion on each item for which the inmate has provided a rebuttal. The assigned staff shall record this information, via CDCR Form 128-B5 (04/21), Security Threat Group Validation Chrono, which is incorporated by reference. If through the review and interview process, a source item is determined to not have merit, the assigned staff shall document that further investigation shows no merit on the CDCR Form 128-B5. Staff will provide a copy to the subject within 14 calendar days and prior to submission of the validation package to the OCS.

(6) The CDCR Form 128-B5 shall be submitted with the validation package to OCS for a recommendation to affirm or reject the validation.

(7) The recommendation for validation or rejection of evidence relied upon shall be documented on a CDCR Form 128-B2 (Rev. 06/14), Security Threat Group Validation/Rejection Review, which is incorporated by reference, and be forwarded to the facility or parole region of origin for processing. If the inmate is currently housed in a CDCR institution, the CDCR Form 128-B2 will be reviewed by the STG Unit Classification Committee. Upon receipt of the CDCR Form 128-B2, the Classification and Parole Representative, or their designee, shall clearly note in some permanent manner upon the face of every document whether or not the item met validation requirements.

(1) The STG Unit Classification Committee shall ensure:

(2) RHU CSR shall audit all STG-I and STG-II validations for accuracy and compliance with departmental regulations, in accordance with subsection (d) above. The CSR will approve the requested actions or return the case for corrections, referral to the Chief Deputy Warden, or, defer the requested actions upon discovery of any due process violations. If the case is returned, the CSR shall articulate the required corrections.