Chapter 1 – General Administration

13010.17.4 Prohibitions 

• Before entering a facility, news and non-news media representatives, photographers, camera and video operators, producers and their technical crews shall be carefully instructed as to what cannot be filmed, photographed, videotaped or video-recorded. Prohibitions include photographing staff or incarcerated people without consent, any procedure, equipment, or structure that compromises security; and patient encounters that would violate patient privacy or negatively impact patient care. The photographers, camera, or video operators shall agree in writing to these conditions prior to entering a CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation institution or facility by signing the CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Form 181 Primary Laws, Rules, and Regulations Regarding Conduct and Association with State Prison Inmates.

• Conditions

  • In rare instances, it may become necessary to seize film, videotape, digital video files, compact disks, memory cards, memory sticks, hard drives, or any other recording devices or media because of a clear violation of regulations on photography within CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation institutions or facilities.  For example: photographing an employee, incarcerated person, or parolee after they have refused permission, or photographing security facilities, procedures, or equipment without permission. 

    • Any seized film, videotape, digital video files, compact disks, memory cards, and/or memory sticks, hard drives, and any other recording devices shall be placed undamaged, undeveloped, and unviewed, in a secure area.

    • The institution head and the Assistant Secretary, Communications, shall be notified immediately for disposition of the recorded material and/or devices.

• In no event shall film, audiotape, videotape, cameras, or recording equipment be destroyed or damaged.

  • In the event of a disturbance, photographers and videographers approved to visit an institution or facility shall not have their film, audiotape, videotape, digital video files, compact disks, memory cards, memory sticks, recording devices, or any other storage media seized. The production may be halted at the request of the institution head or designee and personnel will be escorted to safety if the disturbance threatens the safety or security of the institution or any person.

  • Should CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or another law enforcement agency have need of the recorded material in connection with any criminal, civil, or administrative investigation or proceeding, they shall advise the photographer or videographer of the need for the recorded material.

  • Photographers and videographers have the right to contest any subpoena to compel production of the recorded materials under the protections, if any, accorded by California State Law, the U.S.United States Constitution and the California Constitution, all of which are expressly reserved and not waived.