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Custody Division Manual / Volume 3 - Administrative Policy and Procedures

3-17/000.00 Viewing of Movies by Inmates and Department Personnel


3-16/040.05 Use of Milk Crates
3-18/000.00 Terrorism Liaison Officer (TLO)

It is the goal of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to provide a comfortable work environment to its Department members. As such, the viewing of any inappropriate or offensive movie in the workplace is prohibited.

For the purpose of this policy, “movie” refers to any format a movie can be contained (e.g., videocassette, DVD, film, mpeg, those received from an Internet, cable, or satellite signal, or any other form)

Department members are prohibited from bringing in, viewing, or playing any of the following movies within a County facility, bus, or vehicle:

  • Any movie rated “R,” “X,” or “NC-17"
  • Any movie that contains material of a sexually explicit nature
  • Any movie that has not been rated by or approved for production by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)
  • Any unrated version of a movie that was formally rated by the MPAA
  • Any unlicensed, “bootlegged,” or otherwise illegally recorded copy of a movie
  • Any television recordings, home-made videos, or movies not licensed for public viewing

No movie with any of the above content shall be played or aired for viewing by personnel or inmates within the Sheriff’s Department custody at any time.

Additionally, Department members are prohibited from brining any communication or recording device used for viewing movies, such as DVD players, digital cameras, or any items described in Custody Division Manual (CDM) section 3-01/090.00, “Security of Personal Property,” into a custody facility without prior approval from the watch commander. Department members are prohibited from bringing a wireless communication device as described in CDM section 3-01/090.05, “Wireless Communication Devices,” into a custody facility without the approval of the respective Division chief.  

Exceptions to this policy include any of the above material being viewed for the specific purpose of “training” or in direct correlation to an investigation. Any training material that includes any of the above content shall be approved by the watch commander prior to its viewing.

Watch Commander Responsibilities

Watch commanders who approve movies and/or recording/communication devices to be brought into their facility to be viewed by employees or inmates, shall enter the occurrence into the watch commander’s log.