Policy Text
Custody Bureau
Facility Security Cameras -
Surveillance [Jse Policy
2017
Santa Clara County
Sheriffls Offïce
Custody Bureau
Surveillance Use Policy - Facility Security Cameras
Revised based on direction at02/07/2017 Board Mtg.Page 1 of 5
Approved: 02/07/2017
1. Purpose
The Sheriff s Office operates a public safety carnera system (security camera system)
throughout the Custody Bureau Facilities for the purpose of creating a safer environment for
all those who visit, work in, and are incarcerated at the facilities. This document provides
specific guidelines for the operation of the cameras, the storage of captured images, and the
dissemination of stored data.
2. Authorized and Prohibited Uses
Information and images produced by the system are intended to assist with the following:
Fixed Cameras
o Identifying and preventing threats.
o Preventing escapes.
o Identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting offenders.
o Gathering evidence for criminal actions.
o Detecting PREA violations.
o Monitoring blind spots.
. Helping emergency services personnel respond to emergency events.
o Resolving a citizen or employee complaint or an internal affairs or other county or
law enforcement investigation.
o As otherwise required by law.
Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) Cameras
o Identifying and preventing threats.
o Preventing escapes.
o ldentifying, apprehending, and prosecuting offenders.
o Gathering evidence for criminal actions.
o Detecting PREA violations.
o Monitoring blind spots.
o Helping emergency services personnel respond to emergency events.
o Resolving a citizen or employee complaint or an internal affairs or other county or
law enforcement investigation.
Surveillance Use Policy - Facility Security Cameras
Revised based on direction atO2/O7/201-7 Board MtgPage 2 of 5
. As otherwise required by law.
UVIS Camera
o Identifying and preventing threats.
o Preventing escapes.
o Jdentifyrng and confiscating contraband, and apprehending and prosecuting offenders
and escapees.
o Gathering evidence for criminal actions.
o Monitoring vehicle blind spots.
o Resolving a citizen or employee complaint or an internal affairs or other county or
law enforcement investigation.
o As otherwise required by law.
Any other use or unauthorized access of the video security system or the stored video/audio
data (including copies of that video/audio data) is strictly prohibited.
3. Data Collection
The followingdatamay be obtained by facility security cameras:
Fixed Cameras
o Video images with date and time stamped
Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) Cameras
o Video images with date and time stamped
UVIS Camera
o Photo images of the underside of vehicles with date and time stamped
4. Data Access
Access to live photographs, video images, and audio shall be limited to authorized Sheriff s
staff with access to the viewing portal, including the deputy assigned to the post, the
investigatin g team, and administration.
Access to recorded photographs (still images), video images, and audio shall be limited to
authorized Sheriff s staff, including authonzedlT staff, investigative staff, and
administration.
Surveillance Use Policy - Facility Security Cameras
Revised based on direction at O2/O7/2O1-7 Board MtgPage 3 of 5
5. Data Protection
Original photographs and videos/audio recordings shall be maintained in secure, non-public
locations, such as server rooms or other locations requiring security access or badge access.
Copies of video images, audio recordings, or still images released to the Investigating Officer
for law enforcement activities shall be handled by the úrvestigating Officer pursuant to the
California Evidence Code and Sheriff s Office policies and procedures.
6. Data Retention
Security camera recordings that are not overwritten in the normal course of business (i.e.,
recordings tha| are saved to physical media) shall be retained for at least one year, but shall
be purged or destroyed no later than thirteen months after the recording occurs, unless
otherwise required to be retained for a longer time period pursuant to law or the more
specific guidelines described below. All reasonable efforts shall be taken to ensure that no
recordings are purged or destroyed before the end ofthis retention period, and that all
recordings are purged or destroyed after the expiration of this retention period unless
otherwise required by law. The following types of recordings shall not be subject to that
default retention period :
a. Security camera recordings identified or needed as evidence in a criminal, civil or
administrative investigation or proceeding shall be copied to a suitable medium and, if
applicable, booked into evidence in accordance with current departmental evidence
procedures. These recordings shall be retained for the duration of the applicable criminal,
civil, or administrative investigation and proceeding. (Govemment Code $34090.6)
b. Security camera recordings relating to potential criminal charges that are not filed shall
be retained for no longer than one year after the statute of limitations has expired.
c. Security camera recordings related to complaints of employee misconduct/ Internal
Affairs complaints (whether externally or internally generated) shall be retained in
accordance with Penal Code $832.5, or until the matter has been resolved, whichever is
later.
7. Public Access
Criminal law enforcement videos, audio, photographs and information from facility security
cameras shall be made public or deemed exempt from public disclosure pursuant to state or
federal law.
8. Third-Party Data Sharing
Images and audio from this equipment may be shared with the following:
o Other law enforcement agencies for criminal investigative purposes
District Attorney's Office for use as evidence to aid in prosecution, in accordance
with laws goveming evidence.a
Surveillance Use Policy - Facility Security Cameras
Revised based