Assembly Bill No. 3043
CHAPTER 333

An act to add Section 5058.7 to the Penal Code, relating to corrections.

[ Approved by Governor  September 30, 2020. Filed with Secretary of State  September 30, 2020. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 3043, Jones-Sawyer. Corrections: confidential calls.
Existing law provides that an inmate in state prison has specified civil rights, including, among others, the right to confidentially correspond with a member of the State Bar of California. Existing regulations adopted by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation permit an inmate to make a confidential call, as defined, with the inmate’s attorney only as approved on a case-by-case basis by the institution head or their designee, as specified.
This bill would require the department to approve an attorney’s request to make confidential calls, as specified. The bill would require the department to provide the inmate at least 30 minutes once per month, per case, to make those calls, unless the inmate or attorney requests less time.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 5058.7 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

5058.7.
 (a) The department shall approve an attorney’s request to have a confidential call with the inmate that they represent. The approved confidential call shall be at least 30 minutes once per month, per inmate, per case, unless the inmate or attorney requests less time.
(b) For purposes of this section, “confidential call” means a telephone call between an inmate and their attorney that both the inmate and attorney intend to be private.