Policy Text
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES Page 1 of 4 6/13 (REV 7/07)
MJ/RCCC
OPERATIONS ORDER
Telephone and TDD / T TY Equipment Access
The purpose of this Order is to standardize procedures for prov iding reasonable access
to telephones and Telephone Dictapho ne for the Deaf (TDD/TTY) e quipment for
prisoners at the Main Jail and the Rio Cosumnes Correct ional Center (RCCC).
I. Policy
Prisoner telephone conversations are recorded and randomly moni tored in the interest
of staff and prisoner safety, f acility security and public safe ty concerns. Custody staff
shall provide telephone access so that arrestees are able to ma ke the required number
of telephone calls upon being bo oked as per Penal Code 851.5. Reasonable telephone
access is also provided to pris oners during recreation periods. Once a prisoner is
identified as hearing impaired, all efforts will be made so tha t such prisoner receives all
rights and privileges a s would be given any other prisoner.
II. In-House Prisoner Telephone System
A. The current telephone system i s Global Tel Link. The system is used to
monitor and record prisoner tele phone communications and provid es for:
1. An admonishment advising bot h the prisoner and the outgoing
person called that the conver sation may be recorded.
2. Historical electronic retrieva l of stored telephone conversa tions.
3. Communication storage for one year with future expansion
capabilities.
4. A prisoner using his/her X-re ference number to place a telep hone
call.
III. Booking Te lephone Procedures and Equipment
A. In accordance with Penal Code 851.5(a) arrestees shall, immediately
upon being booked and no later than three (3) hours after arres t, except
where physically impossible, have the right to make three (3) l ocal
telephone calls at no expense.
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES Page 2 of 4 6/13 (REV 7/07)
MJ/RCCC
B. In accordance with Penal Code Se ction 851.5(b) booking cells equipped
with a phone must have a sign, in bold print, and clearly visib le to
arrestees that states the arre stee has the right to three (3) f ree phone calls
within the local dialing area. The phone calls may be to any o f the
following:
1. An attorney of his or her choice or, if he or she has no fun ds, the
public defender or other attorney assigned by the court to assi st
indigents, whose telephone number shall be posted. This call s hall
not be monitored, eaves dropped upon or recorded.
2. A bail bondsman. 3. A relative or other person.
C. In accordance with Penal Code Section 851.5(c) if, upon questioning
during the booking process, the a rrestee is identified as a cus todial parent
with the responsibility for a mi nor child, the arrestee shall b e entitled to
make two additional telephone calls at no expense if the calls are
completed to telephone numbers wit hin the local calling area to a relative
or other person for the purpose of arranging for the care of th e minor child
or children in t he parents absence.
D. In accordance with Penal Code Section 851.5(d) the required telephone
calls shall be given immediatel y upon request, or as soon as pr acticable.
1. Arrestees exhibiting behavior that threatens the security of the
facility, the safety of staff or other arrestees, or is a threa t to self or
others will temporarily be denied access to the telephone.
2. The arrestee will be allowed a ccess to the telephone when th e
behavior ceases.
E. Any public officer or employee who willfully deprives an arr estee of any
right granted by this section is guilty of a misdemeanor as per Penal Code
Section 851.5(f) .
F. Any time an arrestee is add-booked, the arrestee shall be gi ven telephone
calls in accordance with this section.
1. If the arrestee is in a hous ing unit, housing unit staff may coordinate
with booking staff to allow the p r i s o n e r t o u s e t h e b o o k i n g
telephones.
2. Prisoners from housing units should not be allowed to mingle with
prisoners who have not yet been th rough the dress in process.
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES Page 3 of 4 6/13 (REV 7/07)
MJ/RCCC
IV. Housing Unit Telephone Equipment
A. Each housing unit is equip ped with telephones modified so th at the
prisoner using them must place “collect” calls only.
B. Each housing unit has signs posted notifying the prisoners t hat the
telephone calls are monito red and/or recorded.
1. Housing unit staff should c heck these signs each shift.
C. Each facility shall have available Telephone Dictaphone for the Deaf
(TDD) equipment.
V. Housing Unit Telephone Procedures
A. For purposes of this order, “dayroom” refers to the Exercise a n d
Recreation as is described in T itle 15, Article 6, Section 1065 .
B. Telephones are accessible to p risoners who are participating in dayroom
activities. Dayroom typically occurs everyday, unless a situati on arises
that would prevent