Volume 4 NEWS MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS (4-003) Flashcards
(10 cards)
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS UNIT
A. Coordinating special events and providing information to the public, news
media and other agencies with related functions;
B. Processing requests received from news media for information, interviews
and access to files;
C. Responding promptly to serious incidents and coordinating the release of
information to the news media by subject matter along with appropriate
command staff;
D. Assisting the media in covering new stories at departmental facilities/entities;
E. Preparing and distributing agency or facility news releases;
F. Arranging news conferences and assisting as necessary;
G. Coordinating release of information to other agencies regarding incidents or
matters of mutual responsibility and concern;
H. Being available for on-call responses to the news media.
NEWS MEDIA ACCESS
A news media representative shall complete and submit a Media Access Request Form
in order to gain access to a MDCR detention facility for the purpose of gathering or
reporting news for a local, state, national or international news service. The form shall be
submitted to the CAB at least 24 hours prior to the requested interview date and time.
NEWS MEDIA ACCESS
The Director or designee has final authority for granting approval/disapproval for a news
media representative(s) to enter MDCR detention facilities.
The following protocol shall be adhered to for news media access:
A. CAB shall verify the credentials of each news media representative with the
respective news media agency;
B. A news media representative(s) must be authorized by the Director or designee
prior to being allowed to interview, photograph, film and/or videotape inside of a
detention facility;
C. At the discretion of the respective Facility Supervisor or higher level authority, a
news media representative(s) may be denied entry into a detention facility due to
security or operational issues;
D. A news media representative(s) shall not be allowed to photograph, film, and/or
videotape the face of any inmate in a detention facility without first obtaining the
inmate’s consent via a Media Consent/Refusal Form. MDCR staff shall witness
execution of the form by the inmate and sign the form as a witness;
E. A news media representative(s) shall not be allowed to interview any inmate who
is hospitalized, on suicide watch, in administrative/disciplinary confinement or
classified as high risk;
F. A news media representative(s) shall not be allowed access to a detention facility
during a riot, hostage situation, fire, or other emergency situations;
G. If a riot, hostage situation, fire or other emergency situation occurs, the news
media representative(s) shall be escorted by sworn staff from the detention
facility;
H. A news media representative(s) shall be allowed to conduct live broadcasts from
the public parking lots as long as a security risk is not created and traffic flow is
not obstructed;
I. MDCR staff shall not interfere with the public or a news media representative(s)
who photographs or attempts to photograph an inmate being escorted in any
public place outside of a detention facility.
MEDIA INTERVIEWS (STAFF)
Interviews of staff by a news media representative(s) shall be governed by the
following protocol:
1. He/she shall notify his/her Facility/Bureau Supervisor or higher level
authority and the CAB Manager, prior to participating in an interview;
2. He/she shall while on-duty or off-duty be in an official capacity when
discussing specific MDCR issues;
3. He/she shall not represent his/her personal opinion as fact(s);
4. He/she shall not release information that is deemed confidential,
compromises an ongoing investigation or influences the outcome of an
inmate’s defense.
MEDIA INTERVIEWS (INMATES)
Ensure that the Shift Supervisor/Commander completes
and submits an Inmate News Media Interview Request Checklist.
Request for Interview*
The inmate shall complete and submit an Inmate Request Form to a
Correctional Counselor. The Correctional Counselor shall immediately
forward the form to the Facility Supervisor. The Facility Supervisor shall
forward the form via the chain of command to the Director or designee for
authorization.
Upon approval by the Director or designee, the Facility Supervisor shall
immediately notify CAB to contact the news media representative(s) to
confirm the date, the time, place and conditions of the interview. The CAB
shall inform the inmate’s attorney of the interview details. In addition, the
CAB shall maintain documentation that the inmate’s attorney was notified of
the interview.
The Facility Supervisor shall ensure that the Shift Supervisor/Commander is
informed of the interview details and that a Correctional Corporal or higher
rank sworn staff is present during the inmate’s interview.
Consent for an Interview*
The right to consent to an interview with the news media rests with the
inmate. The Facility Supervisor shall ensure that a news media
representative, who requests an interview with an inmate, obtains consent
from the inmate via the Media Consent/Refusal Form prior to the interview.
MDCR staff shall witness execution of the form by the inmate and sign the
form as a witness. The news media representative shall sign the form prior
to the interview. The original Media Consent/Refusal Form shall be
maintained at the detention facility where the inmate is housed and a copy
shall be forwarded to the CAU within 1 business day.
Refusal of an Interview**
The inmate retains the right to refuse a media interview, even if he/she
previously gave consent for the interview. When an inmate refuses an nterview with the media, the Facility Supervisor shall notify the CAB and
provide a copy of the Media Consent/Refusal Form. The CAB shall notify the
news media representative(s) of the inmate’s refusal to be interviewed.
Denial of an Interview**
When the Director or designee denies an inmate an interview with the news
media, the inmate may appeal, in accordance with DSOP 15-001, “Inmate
Complaint/Grievance Process.”
INTERVIEW PROCEDURES (INMATES)
The inmate shall be interviewed in his/her MDCR issued uniform;
b. MDCR staff shall escort the news media representative(s) to the
interview room and a Correctional Corporal or above shall remain in
the interview room to observe from inside the room;
c. The inmate shall not to be left alone with the news media
representative(s), under any circumstances;
d. The inmate’s interview shall be limited to 1 hour (including equipment
set up and break down);
e. MDCR staff is authorized to have the inmate removed from the
interview room, if the inmate becomes unruly or violates any provisions
of this DSOP.
JUVENILE (NEWS MEDIA)
In accordance with FS 985.04, MDCR shall release for publication the name, booking
photograph, and address of a juvenile taken into custody only if the juvenile offender
was taken into custody by a law enforcement officer for a law violation which, if
committed by an adult would be considered a “felony.” News media requests to
photograph or interview a juvenile shall be denied.
FEDERAL INMATES INTERVIEW (MEDIA)
The CAB may release information regarding inmates booked as state or county inmates,
with “holds” for federal agencies. News media requests for information regarding
inmates booked as federal inmates shall be referred to the United States Marshals
Office or United States Customs Enforcement.
