How to Schedule Interviews with Incarcerated Individuals

Step 1

Read the Department's Distribution of Information Policy.

Step 2

Contact the Chief Communication's Officer or Public Information Officer via letter or email. Include the following information in your request:

• Incarcerated Individual's Name
• List of Initial Questions
• Focus of Story
• Anticipated Air or Publication Date

Step 3

CCO, in coordination with the Warden and Central Office Administration, will determine if the incarcerated individual meets the criteria for interviews.

Interviews are not permitted if the individual is:

• In Protective Custody or Administrative Restrictive Status Housing
• In the Infirmary or receiving Mental Health treatment
• In Disciplinary Restrictive Status Housing
• Being processed in an Intake Unit
• Involved in a pending court action and the court has issued an order forbidding such interviews

Interviews may also not be permitted if doing so would present a threat to the safety and security of the facility or impair normal operations.

Step 4

The incarcerated individual must sign a waiver consenting to the interview or the request will be denied.

If requesting to interview a juvenile, the juvenile's parent or guardian must sign the consent and waiver if the Warden approves the request.

Step 5

Once the interview is approved, the PIO for the facility will reach out to discuss logistics of the news media's visit including date, time, and equipment.

Media representatives will need to supply a full name, date of birth, social security number and driver's license number to be processed for security clearance. Representatives from outside the U.S. will need to submit a full name, date of birth, and passport information.

A signed Media Consent Form is also required.

IMPORTANT!

By signing the Media Release Form, you agree that you have read and understand all the policies and procedures for incarcerated individual interviews. If these are not followed, you may be denied future requests.

• Cell phones are not permitted inside facilities, so if you need to record audio, you will need to bring a small recorder.
• You will have four (4) hours to conduct the interview, this includes time for setup and tear down of equipment.
• All interviews will take place outside of the individual's living area.
• Permission must be granted to take video or photos inside the facility.