Code Section

4576.  

(a) Except as otherwise authorized by law, or when authorized by either the person in charge of the prison or other institution under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or an officer of the institution empowered to give that authorization, a person who possesses with the intent to deliver, or delivers, to an inmate or ward in the custody of the department any cellular telephone or other wireless communication device or any component thereof, including, but not limited to, a subscriber identity module (SIM card) or memory storage device, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each device, or both that fine and imprisonment.

(b) (1) If a person visiting an inmate or ward in the custody of the department, upon being searched or subjected to a metal detector, is found to be in possession of a cellular telephone or other wireless communication device or any component thereof, including, but not limited to, a SIM card or memory storage device, that device or component shall be subject to confiscation but shall be returned on the same day the person visits the inmate or ward, unless the cellular telephone or other wireless communication device or any component thereof is held as evidence in a case where the person is cited for a violation of subdivision (a).

(2) If, upon investigation, it is determined that no prosecution will take place, the cellular telephone or other wireless communication device or any component thereof shall be returned to the owner at the owner’s expense.

(3) Notice of this provision shall be posted in all areas where visitors are searched prior to visitation with an inmate or ward in the custody of the department.

(c) Any inmate who is found to be in possession of a wireless communication device shall be subject to time credit denial or loss of up to 90 days.

(d) A person who brings, without authorization, a wireless communication device within the secure perimeter of any prison or institution housing offenders under the jurisdiction of the department is deemed to have given his or her consent to the department using available technology to prevent that wireless device from sending or receiving telephone calls or other forms of electronic communication. Notice of this provision shall be posted at all public entry gates of the prison or institution.

(e) The department shall not access data or communications that have been captured using available technology from unauthorized use of a wireless communication device except after obtaining a valid search warrant.

(f) The department shall not capture data or communications from an authorized wireless communication device, except as already authorized under existing law.

(g) The department shall not access data or communications that have been captured using available technology from an authorized wireless communication device, except as already authorized under existing law.

(h) If the available technology to prevent wireless communications from sending and receiving telephone calls or other forms of electronic communication extends beyond the secure perimeter of the prison or institution, the department shall take all reasonable actions to correct the problem.

(i) Any contractor or employee of a contractor or the department who knowingly and willfully, without authorization, obtains, discloses, or uses confidential information in violation of subdivision (e), (f), or (g) shall be subject to an administrative fine or civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for a first violation, or ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for a second violation, or twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for a third or subsequent violation.

(j) Nothing in this section prohibits the department from obtaining electronic communications that the department could have lawfully obtained prior to the effective date of this section.