Personal Electronic Device – Any device capable of communicating, transmitting, receiving or recording messages, images, sound, data or other information by any means including but not limited to a computer, tablet, cell phone, or Bluetooth device, and all cameras.
Lockup and Attorney Rooms
Possession of ANY personal electronic device in a secured area is strictly prohibited.
Upon signature of the Court Services Division Laptop/Tablet Request and Acknowledgement Form, Attorneys from the Public Defender’s Office may be granted permission to bring their department issued electronic communication device into an attorney room or court lock-up to interview their client, on a non-contact interview.
Per 4575 (a) P.C.: any person in a local correctional facility who possesses a wireless communication device, including, but not limited to, a cellular telephone, pager, or wireless Internet device who is not authorized to possess that item, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).
A correctional facility is defined as any secured facility, station jail, and court lockup.
Any prior approval will come from the Assistant Sheriff of Custody Operations.
Courtroom and Attorney Rooms
Personnel shall not use ANY personal electronic device(s) while performing their assigned duties in court (when court is in session/open and occupied), except in an emergency situation.
Weapons Screening
Personnel shall not use ANY personal electronic device(s) while performing their assigned duties at weapon screening, except in an emergency situation.
Operating a County-Owned Vehicle
Absent extenuating circumstances, members shall not operate a cellular device while driving any marked, county-owned vehicle. When practical, members shall use a cellular device headset/earpiece (e.g., Bluetooth, other hands-free device, etc.) when engaged in a telephone conversation while driving; however, such devices shall not be worn when the cellular (wireless) device is not in use.
NOTE: This prohibition shall apply to the use of the cellular device for both voice communications as well as data (text) communications. Members shall not use a personal cellular telephone or any other similar personal communication or recording device to record, store, document, catalog, transmit, and/or forward any image, document, scene, or environment captured as a result of their employment and/or while performing official Department business that is not available or accessible to the general public. Official Department business shall include, but is not limited to, confidential, sensitive, or copyrighted information that is printed, audio recorded, photographed, or video recorded; information related to any past, present, or anticipated criminal, civil, or administrative investigation, including reports, declarations, evidence, photographs, videos, or audio recordings; and/or, photographs of suspects, arrestees, defendants, evidence or crime scenes.
NOTE: A personal cellular telephone or any other similar personal communication or recording device used exclusively to record contacts with members of the public during legitimate Department business (e.g., traffic stops, etc.) are exempt from the provisions of this section.
NOTE: This restriction does not include the scanning devices specifically used for the Title 15 security checks.