Chapter 4 – Information Technology

47050.3 Usage

• Acceptable Use

  • Departmental radio communications shall:

    • Be conducted using CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation-owned, leased, and managed radios and peripheral radio equipment. Exceptions may be made during emergencies, when conducting tactical operations, or when a law enforcement agency agrees to provide radio equipment that conforms to FCCFederal Communications Commission Rules and Regulations.

    • Operate on radio frequencies licensed for departmental use. The use of radios and frequencies provided by another public safety entity for events including but not limited to tactical exercises, mutual aid, or dispatch services shall be pre-approved by the Radio Communications Unit (RCU). The locally approved temporary use of another public safety agency’s FCCFederal Communications Commission approved radio frequencies is authorized when necessary during an emergency or to protect public safety.

    • Be used in conformance with the FCCFederal Communications Commission Rules and Regulations.

    • Be used for the express purpose of communicating Department information to authorized personnel.

• Unacceptable Use

  • The use of non-approved two-way radio equipment 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.

  • Inmates, wards, and parolees shall not be allowed to use CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation radio equipment described in this Article or have access to the radio communications equipment for personal monitoring, except as authorized below:

    • Inmates assigned to fire camps may be authorized to use a departmental radio as 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. Inmates 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 (staff/inmate dispatch console at the fire department) and in the fire vehicles. Inmates shall not have access to the fire department’s hand held portable radios which are programmed with other institutional operational talk groups.

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