Chapter 6 – Adult Classification

62010.4.3.3 Special Public Interest Cases

• Inmates shall be identified as public interest cases when the crime, circumstances of the offense, or subsequent conduct results in unusual public concern as evidenced by extensive media coverage beyond the local community.

  • Criteria

    • Cases may include execution type murders, multiple murders or the mutilation of victims. Consideration should also be given to inmates who were originally sentenced to death or life without the possibility of parole.

  • Identification

    • Reception center counselors shall indicate in the institution staff recommendation summary (ISRSInstitutional Staff Recommendation Summary) of new process cases that the case meets criteria for public interest case designation. The reviewing counselor shall recommend this designation in the supervisor’s recommendation section of the ISRSInstitutional Staff Recommendation Summary.

    • UCCUnit Classification Committee/ICCInstitution Classification Committee’s shall identify cases at the time of initial or at any subsequent classification actions when it is determined that cases warrant this designation. The CDC Form 128-G recording the committee action shall reflect the inmate’s public interest case status.

    • All cases identified by reception center or institution staff shall be referred to a CSRClassification Staff Representative for endorsement as a public interest case.

    • CSRClassification Staff Representative’s endorsing cases as public interest cases shall record this designation on the CDC Form 128-G. All subsequent classification actions shall reflect this status on the documenting CDC Form 128-G in the space directly below the inmate’s custody designation.

  • Recording

    • Cases endorsed by a CSRClassification Staff Representative as public interest case shall be referred to the CCRMCorrectional Case Records Manager by the reception center CCCorrectional Counselor-III or the institution C&PRClassification & Parole Representative upon endorsement.

    • The CCRMCorrectional Case Records Manager shall ensure that the designation “Public Interest Case” is entered in red ink on the CDC Form 112, Chronological History and CDC Form 144, Control Card. This entry will reflect that notification of the Assistant Director, Communications is required.

  • Notification

    • The C&PRClassification & Parole Representative shall ensure that the CDC Form 611 reflects the inmate’s public interest status at the time it is forwarded to the P&CSDParole & Community Services Division (see DAPO). At this time, a copy of the CDC Form 611 and any appropriate supporting documentation, i.e., PORProbation Officer Report, shall be forwarded by the C&PRClassification & Parole Representative to the DPIO.

    • Following a review of case factors by the DPIO, information related to the release of an inmate designated a public interest case shall be forwarded by the DPIO to the Director and the California YACA, if appropriate. The DPIO may be contacted for information related to media interest in public interest cases.