Chapter 1 – General Administration

13010.8 Media Access to Institutions and Facilities

• Access to an institution, facility, or contract facility for a news media representative shall require approval of the institution head and the Assistant Secretary, Communications or their designees. Access to an institution, facility or contract facility for a non-news media representative shall require prior approval of both the institution head and the Assistant Secretary, Communications or their designees. Access to facilities providing health care requires approval of the institution head, the Health Care Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and the Assistant Secretary of Communications or their designees. For each request for access from a news media representative or non-news media representative, the institution head or OPECOffice of Public and Employee Communications shall provide an initial response within two (2) working days. Non-news media representatives must provide proof of employment by a bona fide publication or production company, or have evidence that such a company has contracted to purchase the completed project prior to approval. Non-news media representatives’ and rehabilitative program providers’ requests for access to departmental facilities, on-duty staff, or incarcerated people shall include project and production details as necessary to determine security and operational impacts. Non-news media representatives and rehabilitative program provider’s film productions require a California Film Commission permit, along with evidence of financial responsibility and general and automobile liability insurance in an amount not less than $1 million indemnifying and defending the State of California, its officers, employees, and agents against any lawsuits. Automobile liability insurance is not required if no vehicles are used in or for filming. Statutory Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability are also required. If a company has no employees, a Workers’ Compensation waiver letter must be submitted to the California Film Commission.

• Within an institution, all media representatives shall be under direct supervision of the Public Information Officer (PIOPublic Information Officer) or their designee. Media representatives shall not enter the lethal injection facility, the gas chamber, Psychiatric Inpatient Program units, mental health crisis bed units, the Protective Housing Unit, restricted housing units, or any area currently affected by an emergency situation without approval of the Secretary or designee. Access to any secured area where lethal weapons are maintained requires prior approval of the institution head. The institution head may allow access to an area outside the secure perimeter of a facility to news media representatives.

• News media representatives shall be given general access to all areas of community-based correctional centers and facilities under contract to CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation including but not limited to the Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPODivision of Adult Parole Operations (formerly P&CSD)) and the Division of Rehabilitative Programs (DRPDivision of Rehabilitative Programs) only with prior approval of the Regional Parole Administrator (RPARegional Parole Administrator), and DRPDivision of Rehabilitative Programs Community Correctional Administrator when accompanied by a PIOPublic Information Officer or designee.

• Prior to their visit to an institution or facility, news and non-news media representatives shall read and sign the CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Form 181, Primary Laws, Rules, and Regulations Regarding Conduct and Association with State Prison Incarcerated Persons, which is a digest of state laws and departmental rules and regulations.

• All requests for transmission by microwave, satellite, Ethernet, cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and any other form of voice, video and data transmission hereafter devised from a correctional facility shall be directed to the Assistant Secretary, Communications, for approval or disapproval.

• All requests for transmission by microwave, satellite, Ethernet, cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and any other form of voice, video and data transmission hereafter devised from a correctional facility shall be directed to the Assistant Secretary, Communications, for approval or disapproval.

• Under no circumstances will cell phones, smart phones or any devices with video and still-camera capability be permitted in correctional facilities without written authorization from the Assistant Secretary, Communications, or their designee and the warden.

• News and non-news media representatives may be allowed controlled access under institution escort to patients and their housing areas in order to safeguard the public’s right to know while respecting patients’ legal right to health care privacy, subject to CCRCalifornia Code of Regulations Title 15, section 3261.6 and DOMDepartment Operations Manual section 13010.15.3. There may also be limited or restricted access to other areas including towers, control booths, protective housing units, reception centers, and other areas that affect the security of the institution. The intent of this section is to encourage all reasonable cooperation with and access for reporters and their technical crews within available resources consistent with the safe and secure operations of CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation institutions without undue interruption of programming and services. Institution heads and the DAPODivision of Adult Parole Operations (formerly P&CSD) headquarters PIOPublic Information Officer in consultation with OPECOffice of Public and Employee Communications may impose limitations on or set conditions for media access when, in their judgment, such access would constitute an immediate threat to safety and security, generate serious operational problems, or disrupt programming and services. In the event of a disturbance that may, in the opinion of the institution head or their designee, threaten the safety and security of the institution or any person, media representatives shall be escorted to safety. The Assistant Secretary, Communications, or designee, shall be notified as soon as possible of such occurrences.

• Program providers may submit a request in writing to OPECOffice of Public and Employee Communications to take photos of their rehabilitative programs. No further location agreement or film permit is needed. A PIOPublic Information Officer or their designee must review and approve photos to be used.

• The Assistant Secretary, Communications, or designee, is available to mediate disputes with the media.