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.