Nevada runs a three-level formal grievance process under Administrative Regulation 740 (AR 740), Inmate Grievance Procedure. Before you file the first form, there are two threshold rules that will determine whether your grievance is even accepted.
First: you must demonstrate an actual loss or harm. Nevada's grievance procedure is not a request form. It is not a way to tell staff about conditions you dislike without having suffered a consequence. If you cannot factually demonstrate that you experienced a specific loss or harm, the grievance will not be accepted. Know what you lost, what was damaged, or what concrete harm resulted before you file.
Second: you may file only one grievance per seven-day week -- Monday through Sunday. A second grievance filed in the same seven-day period will not be accepted. The only exceptions are sexual abuse allegations and emergency grievances involving health or safety.
Both rules apply before any other procedural question matters.
AR 740 governs grievances at all NDOC institutions. All grievances are entered into NOTIS (Nevada Offender Tracking Information System). Grievances are treated as legal correspondence, gathered by the Grievance Coordinator Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Why the Process Matters: The PLRA
The Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995, 42 U.S.C. section 1997e(a), requires you to exhaust all available administrative remedies before a federal court will hear a lawsuit about prison conditions. In Nevada, exhaustion means completing all three levels -- Informal, First Level, and Second Level -- unless the grievance was granted at a lower level. Stopping after the Informal or First Level does not exhaust remedies.
The Supreme Court in Woodford v. Ngo (2006) held that proper exhaustion requires following all procedural rules, including the one-grievance-per-week limitation, the harm or loss requirement, the one-issue rule, and the filing deadlines.
Abandonment: If you fail to file a timely or procedurally proper grievance at any level, or if you refuse to sign and date the grievance form at any level, your claim is considered abandoned. An abandoned grievance does not exhaust administrative remedies.
Two Separate Filing Windows Depending on Your Claim Type
Nevada uses two different initial filing deadlines at the Informal Level, and which one applies depends on the type of claim:
**Six months** from the date of the incident: for claims involving personal property damage or loss, personal injury, medical claims, or any other tort claim including civil rights claims. This 6-month window is set by NRS 209.243.
**Ten calendar days** from the date of the incident: for all other issues within the authority and control of NDOC, including classification, disciplinary matters, mail and correspondence, religious items, and food.
When a grievance cannot be filed because of circumstances beyond your control, the clock starts from the date those circumstances cease to exist.
Time limits are waived entirely for allegations of sexual abuse, regardless of when the incident allegedly occurred.
Choose the wrong window -- specifically, waiting past 10 calendar days on a non-tort issue -- and your claim is abandoned at all subsequent levels.
Level 1: Informal Grievance
Form: DOC-3091, Informal Grievance.
How to file: Obtain the form from unit staff, unit caseworker, or the Institutional Law Library. Place the completed form in the locked grievance collection box in your housing unit, or hand it to staff. Keys to collection boxes are held only by the Warden, Associate Warden, and designated staff.
Before filing, attempt to resolve the matter through discussion with your caseworker or by submitting an inmate request form (DOC-3012). For some issues (disciplinary appeals, visiting denials, mail censorship, allegations of sexual abuse), the issue goes directly to the Warden for a First Level decision. In those cases, still file an Informal Grievance Form marked "for tracking purposes."
What to include: Describe the specific loss or harm you suffered. State clearly the remedy you are requesting. Failure to state a remedy is treated as an improper grievance and the form will be returned with a DOC-3098 Improper Grievance Memorandum. If your remedy includes monetary restitution or damages, obtain and submit with the grievance:
For property loss or damage: Form DOC-3026, Inmate Property Claim.
For personal injury, tort, or civil rights claims: Form DOC-3095, Administrative Claim Form.
One issue per grievance. If you include more than one issue, the grievance will not be accepted. If more space is needed to describe the claim, attach up to two DOC-3097 Grievant Statement Continuation Forms.
Response deadline: **45 calendar days** from the date the grievance is received by the Grievance Coordinator to the date it is returned to you.
If overdue: the overdue response is not an automatic finding in your favor. The response must still be completed. You may proceed to the First Level without waiting if the response is overdue, and the overdue response will not count against your 5-day appeal window.
Appeal deadline: **5 calendar days** from receipt of the informal response. If you do not appeal within 5 calendar days, the claim is abandoned at this and all subsequent levels.
Level 2: First Level Grievance
Form: DOC-3093, First Level Grievance.
How to file: Obtain the form from your unit caseworker or Grievance Coordinator. Place in the locked collection box or submit directly. The First Level is reviewed and responded to by the Warden at the institution where the incident occurred -- even if the Warden is the subject of the grievance.
At this level: provide a justification for why you are continuing. The 2018 version of AR 740 requires that you state a basis for continuing to this level. Attach all documentation and factual allegations. Do not introduce new claims or change the remedy requested. An inmate may get assistance from third parties including staff, family members, attorneys, and outside advocates for sexual abuse grievances.
Medical, dental, and mental health First Level responses go to the highest-level nursing administration at the institution. Property issues go to the Associate Warden of Operations.
Staff misconduct grievances are reviewed by the Warden and, if appropriate, forwarded to the Office of the Inspector General through NOTIS. You must complete all three levels even if an Inspector General investigation is underway. The Inspector General's Office has 90 calendar days to respond to a misconduct allegation, with a possible 70-calendar-day extension.
Sexual abuse grievances at all formal levels are referred to the Inspector General's Office for investigation. Final decision on the merits within 90 calendar days of initial filing, extendable by 70 additional calendar days with written notice. The inmate is informed of the outcome upon completion of the investigation.
Response deadline: **45 calendar days** from the date the grievance is received by the Grievance Coordinator to the date it is returned to you.
If overdue: same rule -- not an automatic finding; you may proceed; overdue response does not count against your 5-day appeal window.
Appeal deadline: **5 calendar days** from receipt of the First Level response.
If the First Level is Granted: the grievance process is complete. Your administrative remedies are exhausted. You cannot appeal a grant to a higher level.
Level 3: Second Level Grievance (Final)
Form: DOC-3094, Second Level Grievance.
The Second Level Grievance is reviewed and responded to by the appropriate Deputy Director depending on the nature of the issue:
Deputy Director of Operations: facility custody and security matters not including programs.
Deputy Director of Programs: education, visiting, religious programming, and other program issues.
Deputy Director of Support Services: fiscal, property, and telephone issues.
Offender Management Administrator (OMA): classification and timekeeping issues.
Medical Director: medical and dental issues including medical co-pays or charges.
Mental Health Director: mental health issues.
The Grievance Coordinator forwards copies of all related documents and the Second Level appeal to the Deputy Director for review and distribution to other Appointing Authorities and Division Heads.
Response deadline: **60 calendar days** from the date the grievance is received by the Grievance Coordinator to the date it is returned to you. Note on overdue Second Level response: you may NOT proceed beyond this level even if the response is overdue. The Second Level is the final level; an overdue response does not open a further appeal.
The Second Level decision is **final** and exhausts all available administrative remedies.
Important note on transfers: If you are transferred to another institution while a grievance is pending, the grievance will be completed at the sending institution at all levels. The receiving institution tracks it in NOTIS. All responses will be sent by first class mail to the Grievance Coordinator at the receiving institution. Timeframes do not strictly apply when a transfer has occurred, but will be followed as closely as possible. If your sentence expires or you are released on parole while a grievance is pending, it will be finalized at the current level. Provide a forwarding address.
Deadlines at a Glance
Informal filing -- tort/property/medical/civil rights claims: within 6 months of incident
Informal filing -- all other NDOC issues: within 10 calendar days of incident
Informal filing -- sexual abuse: no time limit
Informal Grievance response: 45 calendar days from receipt
Appeal to First Level: within 5 calendar days of receiving informal response
First Level Grievance response: 45 calendar days from receipt
Appeal to Second Level: within 5 calendar days of receiving First Level response
Second Level Grievance response: 60 calendar days from receipt (FINAL)
Emergency Grievance review: within 24 hours; sexual abuse emergencies: final facility decision within 2 calendar days
Emergency appeal to Deputy Director: within 5 calendar days of Warden's response
What to Put in Your Grievance
Every level: describe the specific incident, the loss or harm you suffered, and the specific remedy you are requesting. You cannot change the remedy from one level to the next. If you do, the grievance will be considered an abuse of the procedure and returned with a DOC-3098.
At every level, sign and date the form. Refusing to sign is abandonment.
At the Informal Level: attach all documentation and factual allegations available to you. Once you move to the First Level, you cannot introduce new facts or claims.
At the First Level: provide a justification for appealing. Explain why the Informal response is incorrect.
At the Second Level: provide a basis for appealing. The Deputy Director may rely on the record from below or conduct additional investigation.
Keep a copy of every form and every response. You will need the full record if you pursue litigation after the Second Level.
Families: families cannot file a grievance on behalf of an incarcerated person, except for allegations of sexual abuse (third-party filing permitted with the victim's agreement). Families of people with disabilities may contact the Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center. After the Second Level is exhausted, families can consult the ACLU of Nevada about next steps.
Emergency Grievances
An emergency is a situation considered life-threatening for you, or a safety or security risk for the institution.
How to file: Use Form DOC-1564, Emergency Grievance. Hand it to any staff member for immediate processing.
Response: the Emergency Grievance must be reviewed within 24 hours of receipt and documented in NOTIS. The Shift Supervisor may confer with on-duty medical staff, the Warden, or Associate Warden to determine if the situation is an emergency.
Sexual abuse emergencies: any emergency grievance alleging substantial risk of imminent sexual abuse will be immediately forwarded to the highest-ranking staff member on duty for corrective action, which may include moving you to administrative segregation for protective custody. Response within 24 hours; final facility decision on whether you are at substantial risk within 2 regular calendar days.
If the grievance is not treated as an emergency: you may file a standard Informal Grievance commencing the regular three-level process.
Filing two or more emergency grievances in a seven-day week that are determined not to be emergencies may result in disciplinary action.
Federal Prisons in Nevada
Nevada has no active Bureau of Prisons federal prison facility. FCI Herlong, often associated with Nevada because of its location near Reno, is actually in Lassen County, California. Nevada federal inmates are designated to facilities in other states. If you are in a BOP facility, AR 740 does not apply to you. Federal inmates use the BOP Administrative Remedy Program under 28 CFR Part 542. See the InmateAid federal grievance article.
After Exhaustion: Where to Go Next
Once the Second Level Deputy Director issues a final decision (or the 60-calendar-day deadline passes without a response), your administrative remedies are exhausted and you may proceed to federal court for conditions of confinement claims.
Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center (NDALC): ndalc.org. Nevada's federally mandated protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities. Has federal authority to access NDOC facilities and investigate concerns. Two offices:
Las Vegas: 702-257-8150 or toll-free 1-888-349-3843. 2820 West Charleston Blvd #11, Las Vegas, NV 89102. Se habla espanol.
Reno: 775-333-7878 or toll-free 1-800-992-5715. 1875 Plumas Street #1, Reno, NV 89509. Se habla espanol.
ACLU of Nevada: aclunv.org. Works on civil rights and prisoners' rights in Nevada, including co-authoring a 2018 report on solitary confinement in NDOC.
Nevada Legal Services: nevadalegalservices.org. Provides free civil legal assistance for qualifying low-income Nevadans.
County Jails in Nevada
Nevada county jails are operated by county sheriffs and are separate from the NDOC. AR 740 applies to NDOC institutions. County jails maintain their own grievance processes. The PLRA requires you to exhaust whatever process exists at your county jail before filing in federal court.
Special Circumstances
ADA accommodations: are expressly included as a grievable remedy under AR 740. If you are not receiving required disability accommodations, file the Informal Grievance demonstrating the specific loss or harm caused by the failure to accommodate. Per a 2023 settlement agreement between the U.S. Department of Justice and Nevada, NDOC has been required to implement an ADA grievance procedure and train staff and inmates on ADA rights.
High Risk Prisoner (HRP) status: if you are designated High Risk Prisoner, your Informal Grievance is responded to by the Warden; your First Level is responded to by the Deputy Director; and your Second Level is responded to by the Director.
Monetary claims cap: compensation for personal property loss or damage, personal injury, or any other tort claim shall not exceed $500. The Deputy Director of Support Services has authority to approve monetary remedies at any level.
Confidentiality: grievance records are confidential and are not placed in your institutional or central file. Copies of responses are given to you. Staff only have access to grievance records when participating in the disposition of a grievance.
Frequently asked questions
I want to complain about a condition I don't like. Do I need to show I was harmed?
Yes. Nevada's grievance procedure requires you to factually demonstrate a loss or harm. A grievance that does not show a specific loss or harm will not be accepted and will be returned with a DOC-3098 Improper Grievance Memorandum. If you want to alert staff to a condition without having suffered harm, use the Inmate Request Form (DOC-3012) instead.
What is the one-per-week rule?
You may not file more than one grievance in any seven-day week, Monday through Sunday. If you file a second grievance in the same week, it will not be accepted. The exceptions are sexual abuse grievances (no limit) and emergency grievances involving health or safety.
What does abandonment mean in Nevada?
Abandonment is the termination of review of any grievance at any level resulting from failure to file a timely or procedurally proper grievance, or from refusing to sign and date the form. If your grievance is abandoned at any level, it is abandoned at all subsequent levels. You cannot restart the process on the same claim.
My Informal or First Level response was late. Does that mean I win?
No. An overdue response at any level is not an automatic finding in your favor. The response must still be completed. You may proceed to the next level without waiting for an overdue response, and the time you waited for the overdue response will not count against your 5-day appeal window. At the Second Level, which is the final level, there is no further level to proceed to even if the response is late.
Can I change what remedy I am asking for at the Second Level?
No. If the requested remedy changes or is modified from one level to another, the grievance will be treated as an improper grievance and returned with a DOC-3098. State your remedy clearly at the Informal Level and keep it consistent through all three levels. --- INTERNAL LINKS TO PLACE: 1. Nevada inmate search (InmateAid Nevada page) 2. Family rights and advocacy in Nevada (FRA series Nevada article) 3. How the Nevada prison disciplinary process works (if spoke exists) 4. How Prison Works hub 5. Staying Connected hub --- SPEC NOTE / SOURCING (strip before publish): - Voice: formerly incarcerated narrator written TO the incarcerated person; family guidance woven in. No em dashes. No smart quotes. No double hyphens. Plain text. - Meta title char count: 55 (under 60). Meta description char count: 158 (in 150-160 range). All 5 FAQ headings under 60 chars, verified. - Defining hooks for Nevada: (1) MUST DEMONSTRATE LOSS OR HARM -- explicit requirement; not a request form; grievance not accepted without showing specific loss or harm; most explicit statement of this requirement in series; (2) ONE GRIEVANCE PER SEVEN-DAY WEEK (Mon-Sun) -- unique filing frequency limit; exceptions only for sexual abuse and emergencies; (3) TWO DIFFERENT INFORMAL FILING WINDOWS: 6 months for tort/property/medical/civil rights (per NRS 209.243); 10 calendar days for all other NDOC issues; waived entirely for sexual abuse; (4) ABANDONMENT: refusing to sign form at any level = abandonment of claim; failure to file timely = abandonment at that and all subsequent levels; (5) OVERDUE RESPONSE NOT AUTOMATIC FINDING FOR INMATE -- response must still be completed; inmate may proceed to next level; exception: at Second Level (final) no further level exists; (6) 45-45-60 CALENDAR DAY RESPONSE PATTERN: Informal 45 CD / First Level 45 CD / Second Level 60 CD; (7) 5-CALENDAR-DAY APPEAL WINDOWS between levels; (8) REMEDY MUST BE STATED at Informal Level and cannot change from level to level; (9) MONETARY REMEDIES: expressly available; max $500 for tort/property claims; monetary claims require DOC-3095 or DOC-3026 submitted with grievance; Deputy Director of Support Services approves monetary remedies; (10) HIGH RISK PRISONER track: Warden responds at Informal, Deputy Director at First, Director at Second; (11) STAFF MISCONDUCT: forwarded to Inspector General through NOTIS; 90 CD Inspector General response, 70 CD extension possible; must complete all three grievance levels even during investigation; (12) SEXUAL ABUSE EMERGENCIES: 24-hour response; final facility decision within 2 calendar days; third-party filing permitted; Inspector General final decision within 90 CD plus 70 CD extension; (13) ADA: expressly grievable as remedy under 740.05.2.E; DOJ settlement 2023 requires ADA grievance procedure; (14) NOTIS TRACKING: all grievances entered into Nevada Offender Tracking Information System; treated as legal correspondence; (15) FCI HERLONG CLARIFICATION: FCI Herlong is in California (Lassen County), not Nevada, despite proximity to Reno; Nevada has NO BOP facility; (16) NDALC: Las Vegas 702-257-8150 / 1-888-349-3843; Reno 775-333-7878 / 1-800-992-5715; two offices confirmed July 2025. - SOURCES: AR 740, Inmate Grievance Procedure, NDOC (Temporary, effective November 20, 2018; full text fetched from doc.nv.gov); AR 740 (effective February 12, 2010; full text fetched from Michigan Law Policy Clearinghouse): full structure confirmed; key sections: 740.01 (locked boxes; grievances as legal correspondence gathered Mon-Fri excluding holidays; NOTIS entry within 3 working days); 740.02 (records confidential; not in institutional or central file; 5-year retention; copies to inmate); 740.03 (must demonstrate loss or harm; one issue per grievance; non-grievable = state/federal court decisions, state/federal/local laws, Parole Board actions, medical diagnosis/treatment/medication from private/contract hospital; one grievance per 7-day week Mon-Sun except sexual abuse and emergency; abandonment = election not to sign/date at any level; abandonment = failure to file timely or properly; overdue response NOT automatic finding; inmate may proceed to next level if overdue; overdue does not count against appeal window; no proceeding beyond Second Level if overdue; retaliation grievable; comprehensive responses required); 740.04 (abuse of procedure = threats, specific previously filed claims, 2+ emergency grievances in 7-day week not deemed emergencies, obscene/profane/derogatory language, more than one issue per grievance, remedy changes from level to level, more than 2 continuation forms, alteration of forms; DOC-3098 returned; discipline possible); 740.05 (remedies: resolve unsafe conditions, civil/constitutional rights violations, protect from prohibited acts, revise/clarify rules, reasonable ADA accommodation/modification, monetary reimbursement; monetary = Deputy Director Support Services; DOC-3096 for non-property monetary claims; DOC-3027/3027 for property; max $500 for tort claims); 740.06 (transfers: completed at sending institution; receiving institution tracks in NOTIS; first class mail for responses; timeframes waived if transferred; sentence expiry/parole = finalized at current level; forwarding address required); 740.07 (emergency: life-threatening or security risk; DOC-1564; any staff; immediate delivery to supervisor within reasonable time; reviewed within 24 hours; documented in NOTIS; sexual abuse emergency = highest ranking staff on duty; corrective action including administrative segregation for protective custody; response within 24 hours; final facility decision within 2 calendar days; shift supervisor may confer with medical, Warden, AW; appeal within 5 CD; Deputy Director responds); 740.08 (informal: after failing to resolve by other means; 6 months for tort/property/medical/civil rights per NRS 209.243; 10 calendar days for all other NDOC issues; waived for sexual abuse; DOC-3097 continuation up to 2 pages; must include remedy; no remedy = DOC-3098; monetary = DOC-3026 or DOC-3095 with grievance; abandonment if late; when issue goes directly to Warden file informal "for tracking purposes"; staff misconduct forwarded to Inspector General; 90 CD Inspector General response; response deadline 45 calendar days from receipt to return to inmate; appeal within 5 calendar days); 740.09 (First Level: Warden; medical/dental = highest nursing admin; property = AW of Operations; provide justification to continue; sexual abuse referred to Inspector General; Inspector General final decision within 90 CD plus 70 CD extension; response deadline 45 calendar days; appeal within 5 CD); 740.10 (Second Level: Deputy Director of Operations/Programs/Support Services; OMA; Medical Director; Mental Health Director; Warden forwards all documents; response deadline 60 calendar days; FINAL -- no further appeal); AR 740 (2010 version, Michigan Law): Second Level response = 60 calendar days confirmed in 740.07 Section 3; HRP track confirmed; sexual abuse Third Party filing confirmed; also from 2010 version confirms: "may not proceed to next grievance level, except at the Second Level, if a response is overdue" (2010 740.03.8.B vs 2018 which says same); DOJ settlement with NDOC (July 7, 2023 extension; ADA grievance procedure required per AR 740 and PLRA); ndalc.org contact page (July 21, 2025 modified; Las Vegas 702-257-8150 / 1-888-349-3843; Reno 775-333-7878 / 1-800-992-5715; confirmed current); FCI Herlong = Lassen County, California (Wikipedia confirmed; near Nevada border but in CA); BOP locations list (Nevada not listed); aclunv.org (confirmed active November 2025); Woodford v. Ngo 548 U.S. 81 (2006). - VERIFY FLAGS for Poorwa: (1) PRIORITY: The current AR 740 is listed on doc.nv.gov as "AR 740 Offender Grievance Procedure Final 4-28-22" (effective April 28, 2022). The PDF was unreadable (no machine-readable text). The article is based on the November 2018 Temporary version. Verify from the 2022 final version whether any key deadlines changed: especially (a) Second Level response deadline (was 60 CD in 2010 version; 2018 version did not include Section 740.10 in the fetched text); (b) informal filing windows (6 months vs 10 CD); (c) appeal windows (5 CD); (d) one-per-week rule remains operative. (2) Confirm Second Level response deadline: 60 calendar days per the 2010 version; flagged for verify against 2022 final version. If changed, update article. (3) Confirm whether the 2022 version still uses "calendar days" for all deadlines at the informal and First Level (45 CD each). (4) Confirm HRP track: Warden at Informal, Deputy Director at First, Director at Second -- from 2010 version, not seen in 2018 version text; verify in 2022 version. (5) Confirm monetary cap is still $500 in current 2022 version. (6) Confirm NDALC contact information: Las Vegas 702-257-8150 / 1-888-349-3843; Reno 775-333-7878 / 1-800-992-5715 -- confirmed from ndalc.org July 2025. (7) Confirm no BOP facility in Nevada -- confirmed from multiple BOP sources. (8) Confirm ACLU of Nevada: aclunv.org -- confirmed active. (9) Confirm DOJ settlement extension details (July 7, 2023) -- confirmed from justice.gov. (10) Note: Nevada uses "Offender Grievance Procedure" as the title in the 2022 final version (not "Inmate Grievance Procedure"). This may reflect a terminology update; verify whether "inmate" or "offender" is current NDOC terminology in the 2022 version.