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Court Services Division Manual / Volume 2 - Lockup / Chapter 8 - Inmate Interviews

2-08/050.00 Special Interviews / Visits - Courts Ordered


2-08/045.00 Visits by Diplomatic and Consular Officials
Chapter 9 - Acceptance of Inmates and Processing

The following persons, possessing suitable identification, may interview an inmate at any Court Services facility:

  • A physician and/or surgeon, including any psychiatrist, psychologist, or registered social worker who is licensed to practice in this state, is employed by the inmate or his attorney to assist in the preparation of the defense, or by virtue of a Court Order is to interview the inmate on behalf of the court.
  • A notary public, when requested by an inmate, for purpose of notarizing legal documents.
  • A probation or parole officer needing to interview the inmate for a related matter.

Visits by family members, witnesses, co-defendants, legal runners, etc. are not permitted in court lockup facilities. An exception to this is contained in CSDM, 3-12/020.00 - Child Visitation with In-Custody Parents.

An attorney or bonds person may bring in two additional individuals to assist him/her in the preparation of legal materials or releases. However, the individual shall not be a family member or a co-defendant. Persons specifically excluded from any contact with an inmate in a lockup are:

  • Ex-felons (must have a letter from the Chief of Court Services Division allowing the ex-felon to enter the property, per the Penal Code).
  • Persons under 18 yrs. of age.
  • Former inmates released from the Los Angeles County Jail system within the past 30 days.

If lockup personnel receives a court order directing a personal visit at a court lockup for anyone other than those individuals that are authorized, the Branch Supervisor shall be immediately advised. It is the responsibility of the Branch Supervisor to contact the issuing judge and explain the security and safety implications of personal visits with inmates. If the judge refuses to rescind the visitation order, it shall be carried out in an expeditious manner, in a security area with additional security precautions. The inmate shall be searched after any personal visit. A contact visit shall not be allowed within a Court Services facility. Any attempt by an attorney, to have an inmate or family members visit in a courtroom shall not be permitted, unless ordered by the court.