Prison Phone Justice

STATE OF LOUISIANA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS
CORRECTIONS SERVICES
Department Regulation
No. B-08-001

20 March 2003

INMATE CLASSIFICATION, SENTENCING, AND SERVICE FUNCTIONS
Inmate Related Services
Telephone Use & Policy on Monitoring of Calls-Adult and Juvenile
1.

AUTHORITY: Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections as
contained in Chapter 9 of Title 36.

2.

REFERENCES: ACA Standards 3-4259, 3-4260, 3-4263, and 3-4439 and (Adult
Correctional Institutions), 3JTS-3D-02, 3JTS-5H-11 (Juvenile Training Schools),
JBC-5H-11 (Juvenile Correctional Boot Camp Programs), Department Regulation
Nos. B-05-001 "Disciplinary Rules and Procedures for Adult Inmates" and B-05-002
"Disciplinary Rules and Procedures for Juvenile Offenders."

3.

PURPOSE: To establish the Secretary's policy regarding the use of telephones by
inmates and the monitoring of inmate telephone calls at all adult and juvenile
institutions.

4.

APPLICABILITY: Deputy Secretary, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretaries and all
Wardens. It is the responsibility of each Warden to implement this regulation and
convey its contents to the inmate population, employees, and the public.

5.

POLICY: It is the Secretary=s policy that uniform telephone procedures--including
the ability to monitor and/or record inmate telephone calls to preserve the security
and orderly management of the institution and to protect the public safety--be
established and adhered to at all institutions. Each institution will offer inmates
(including the hearing impaired) reasonable access to telephone communication
without overtaxing the institution's ability to properly maintain security and to avoid
abuse of this privilege on the part of any inmate.

6.

DEFINITION:
Inmate - refers to anyone committed to the custody of the Department whether as
an adult or juvenile in this context.

7.

PROCEDURES:
A.

General
1)

Each inmate will be assigned a personal identification number (PIN)
which must be used when placing outgoing telephone calls. The PIN
will be the inmate's DOC number or JIRMS number.

Department Regulation No. B-08-001
20 March 2003
Page Two
2)
At the juvenile institutions, one unique PIN, not the inmate=s JIRMS
number, will be utilized for calling the PZT Hotline only.
3)

Each inmate will provide his assigned institution a master list of up to
20 frequently called telephone numbers inclusive of all family,
personal, and legal calls. Each inmate's outgoing telephone calls will
be limited to those telephone numbers he has placed on his master
list. Changes may be made to the master list at the discretion of the
Warden, but no less than once each quarter. These changes may be
input by the contractor or by appropriately trained institutional staff.
Changes to the master list for parents of juvenile offenders and
attorneys representing a juvenile offender are to be expedited. All
attempts should be made to institute such changes within six working
days. For parents, the six days shall begin from written notification by
the offender to the appropriate institutional staff. For an attorney, the
time period shall begin upon receipt of the offender=s written request
to the appropriate institutional staff, if the offender is 18 years or older.
For offenders under the age of 18, the time period shall begin upon
receipt of written notice from the parent confirming the attorney as the
legal representative of their child.

4)

At juvenile institutions, regardless of custody status, offenders will be
provided an opportunity to make telephone calls home at State
expense when the offender=s case worker determines that the call
promotes the goal of the offender=s intervention plan.
Offenders will also be given meaningful access to telephones for
privileged communications with their attorneys.

B.

5)

For new inmates, PIN and master list numbers will be input into the
telephone system upon intake at the Reception and Diagnostic
Centers.

6)

Upon the request of a telephone subscriber, the institution may block
a telephone number and prevent the subscriber from receiving calls
from an inmate housed in the facility. To accomplish a block of a
particular number for all state facilities, the institution should contact
the contractor to request that a universal block be put into place.

Dormitory Housing (Minimum or Medium Custody):
1)

Personal or Family Calls (routine)

Department Regulation No. B-08-001
20 March 2003
Page Three
Collect telephone access should be available on a relatively nonrestricted basis. The specific hours in the various living areas at the
individual institutions shall be established by the Warden of each
institution. The Warden shall communicate the telephone schedule to
the inmate population. A time limit should be established.
2)

Personal or Family Calls (emergency)
Requests for access outside of normally scheduled hours may be
made through the dormitory officer, counselor, or shift supervisor.

3)

Legal Calls
The Warden shall establish a schedule for legal calls. Inmates are
generally able to place legal calls during the lunch period or after the
afternoon count (when Anormal office hours@ are in effect for
attorneys). The Warden should establish an alternate procedure if
this is not adequate.

C.

Cellblock Housing (Maximum Custody):
1)

Personal or Family Calls (routine)
Collect telephone access is generally located in the cellblock lobby.
(In those situations where the telephone is on the tier, the inmate may
be allowed access during the shower or exercise period.) Lobby
placement may restrict inmate access. Therefore, posted policy may
limit routine personal calls for inmates assigned to cellblocks. Access
may vary by inmate classification status. A time limit should be
established.

2)

Personal or Family Calls (emergency)
In all subclasses of maximum custody, the inmate is required to
request consideration for this type call from the Warden's designee
(shift supervisor, unit major, or program staff) who decides if the
justification the inmate presents warrants the request. That decision
is then logged. No frequency for this type call is established as the
severity and duration of the emergency may vary.
NOTE: Please refer to the "Emergency Review" provisions of the
Administrative Remedy Procedure. Timely review can be solicited by
the inmate.

Department Regulation No. B-08-001
20 March 2003
Page Four
3)

Legal Calls
The Warden shall establish a procedure for placing legal calls on a
reasonable basis during normal attorney office hours. Each housing
unit shall maintain a legal telephone log for the purpose of monitoring
the number of legal calls made by inmates on a weekly basis.

D.

Incoming Calls:
1)

Personal or Family calls (routine)
Messages are not accepted or relayed on a routine basis for any
inmate.

2)

Personal or Family Calls (emergency)
The Warden should establish a procedure for inmate notification of
legitimate personal or family emergencies communicated to the
institution.

3)

Legal Calls
Inmates may be given notice that their attorney has requested
contact. Complete verification is required prior to processing. If
minimum or medium custody, the inmate may call from the dormitory
during lunch or after work. If maximum custody, the inmate may be
allowed to call during normal attorney office hours at a time which
does not interfere with orderly operation of the unit.

E.

Monitoring:
1)

Inmates shall be put on notice of the following:
a.

i.

Telephone calls in housing areas are subject to being
monitored and/or recorded and that "use" constitutes
"consent."

ii.

It is the inmate's responsibility to advise all other parties
that conversations are subject to being monitored
and/or recorded.

iii.

A properly placed telephone call to an attorney will not
be monitored and/or recorded unless reasonable
suspicion of illicit activity has resulted in a formal
investigation and such action has been authorized by
the Secretary or designee.

Department Regulation No. B-08-001
20 March 2003
Page Five
b.
The telephone system will normally terminate a call at the end
of the authorized period, (normally 15 minutes); however, the
Warden or his designee may authorize calls of a longer
duration as circumstances warrant.
c.

The system will automatically broadcast recorded messages
indicating that the telephone call is originating from a
correctional facility.

2)

Inmates shall not be allowed access to employee home telephone
numbers and shall not be allowed to call any staff member of the
Department.

3)

Each institution will advise their inmate population of the proper way to
place a legal call.

4)

Only personnel authorized by the Warden may monitor inmate
telephone calls. Information gained from monitoring calls which
affects the security of the institution or threatens the protection of the
public will be communicated to other staff members or other law
enforcement agencies. Telephone calls to attorneys may not be
routinely monitored (see Section 7.E.1)a.iii.); staff will immediately
disconnect from any inmate telephone call if it appears that is the
case. All other information shall be held in strict confidence.

5)

Inmates being processed into the system through the Reception and
Diagnostic Centers will be required to "consent" in writing that their
telephone calls are subject to being monitored and/or recorded. A
copy of this "consent" shall be placed in the inmate's institutional
record.

6)

Each institution's orientation manual must include the information
contained in this regulation as a means to notify the inmate population
and verbal notification must be given in their orientation program.
Existing inmate populations shall be put on notice by a sign posted at
each inmate telephone. The sign shall reflect the following
information:
ATTENTION

This telephone has been electronically programmed to monitor and/or record
telephone calls. By using this telephone, you consent to the monitoring and/or
recording of your conversation, except for properly placed legal calls.
Department of Public Safety and Corrections
Department Regulation No. B-08-001

Department Regulation No. B-08-o01
20 March 2003
Page Six
F.

Remote Call Forwarding:
1)

Remote Call Forwarding (RCF) is a mechanism by which inmates
employ a local telephone number that automatically forwards the
telephone call to a pre-selected number generally located out of the
local calling area code or long distance. RFC in essence is an
automated 3- way call.

2)

RCF is also known as automated call forwarding or PBX call
forwarding. Useofthis automated and remote mechanism represents
significant security risks for several reasons. The telephone call
terminated number (the end destination of the call) cannot be readily
identified or verified. This number is not a traditional telephone
number located at a residence, business or other such location but
merely a number within the telephone switching equipment local to
the facility where the inmate is housed.

3)

RCF initiated calls to an unidentified terminated number can and are
being easily forwarded again to a cell phone and other unauthorized
telephones. This forwarding is done through the normal 3-way call
hook ups. This in fact negates the security mechanisms achieved by
the requirement of approved telephone lists. Safeguards to prevent
calls to victims, to blocked or restricted numbers or to prevent other
unauthorized call activities are defeated by the use of an RCF
number.

4)

RCF usage creates an opportunity to conduct criminal or illegal or unauthorized activities since the end call location is not readily being
identified, verified or its actual location known. This affords untold
opportunity for inmates to engage in potential scams, to call victims,
to facilitate escape attempts and to engage in other conduct
representing significant security risks to the facility.

5)

The inmate population should be put on notice that all third-party
telephone calls, inclUding RCF calls, are strictly prohibited and such
activity will result in appropriate disciplinary action.

6)

Wardens shall develop a monitoring system to analyze the frequency
of local calls. High frequency may indicate RCF utilization. When
RCF calls are discovered, a system wide block of the number should
be initiated pursuant to Section 7A6) of this regulation.

(
'---'''Ri'oI\a~~\--1:~~

Secretary
me
This regulation supersedes Department Regulation No. B-08-001 dated 31 July 2002.