Chapter 4 – Information Technology

47050.3.2 Unacceptable Use

• Unacceptable use of departmental radio communications:

  • The use of two-way radio equipment must be approved by RCU. Radio equipment that has not been approved is prohibited and shall be considered contraband.

  • The use of or possession on institutional grounds of non-approved two-way radio equipment by an employee of the department shall be subject to progressive discipline up to and including possible adverse action consistent with Department Operations Manual (DOMDepartment Operations Manual), Chapter 3, Article 22, Employee Discipline.

  • The use of non-standard equipment, such as Family Radio Service (FRS) and radio scanners, is prohibited. Possession of such devices on institutional grounds is strictly forbidden, and subject to progressive discipline up to and including possible adverse action consistent with DOMDepartment Operations Manual, Chapter 3, Article 22, Employee Discipline.

  • Unless specifically authorized in this section, no access shall be permitted to the Trunked radio communications system at any institution.

  • Incarcerated persons and supervised persons are prohibited from accessing department radio equipment described in this article or having access to the radio communications equipment for personal monitoring, except as authorized below:

    • Incarcerated persons assigned to fire camps may receive limited authorization to use a departmental radio so long as it is restricted to accessing mutual aid or fire channels, no access shall be permitted to the Trunked radio communications system at any institution, with the exception of the Fire Talk Group. Incarcerated persons who are assigned to the institutional fire departments have access to the Fire Talk Group on the Trunked radio system, which resides on the Control Station and in official fire vehicles for dispatching console at the fire department only. Incarcerated persons shall not have access to the fire department’s portable two-way radios which are programmed with other institutional operational talk groups.

    • In the event an employee is incapacitated, an incarcerated person or a supervised person may use the radio to call for emergency assistance.