Chapter 5 – Adult Custody and Security Operations

51090.15 Displaying the State Flag at Half‑Staff

• The State flag is only flown at half-staff for the following reasons:

  • As a symbol of honor or respect over the passing away of someone.

  • As a distress signal.

• Governor’s Executive Order R29-71 stipulates that the flag at the State Capitol shall be lowered to half-staff for peace officers killed in the line of duty. By practice, this is from the time of notification until after the peace officer’s funeral.

• The CDC headquarters and each facility shall display the flag at half-staff for the same time period.

• For non-peace officer employees killed in the line of duty, flags at the facilities and headquarters shall be flown at half-staff from the time of notification until after the funeral.

• For employees and retired employees whose deaths are not in the line of duty, the Warden or RPARegional Parole Administrator shall determine if it is appropriate to have the facility/region flag flown at half-staff on the day of the funeral.

• The flag shall be flown at half-staff only for employees and retirees or at the Governor’s order.