5120-9-16. News media visits

(A) It is the policy of the department of rehabilitation and correction to permit visits by representatives of the news media to correctional institutions, when approved by the managing officer of the particular institution or his designee.

(B) The managing officer or his designee may place reasonable restrictions on the number of reporters allowed in the institution at any one time and on the duration of their visits.

(C) Arrangements for the use of photographic, recording or broadcast equipment or for interviews must be made in advance.

(1) Pictures or recorded interviews of specific inmates may be taken only after securing clearance from the managing officer or his designee and only after the inmate to be photographed has expressed his approval by signing the inmate consent form.

(2) The managing officer or his designee may place reasonable restrictions on the frequency, length, and starting time of personal interviews. The institution will visually monitor such interviews to assure the reporters' safety.

(D) If an institution is placed under a state of emergency, representatives of the news media will be allowed access only to those areas that are designated by the managing officer or his designee. During the existence of a state of emergency, the director or his designee shall inform the news media of the situation within the institution as releasable information becomes available.

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 7/3/2019 and 01/24/2024
Promulgated Under: 111.15
Statutory Authority: 5120.01
Rule Amplifies: 5120.36
Prior Effective Dates: 01/20/1973, 10/11/1982, 07/18/1983, 04/01/2009

Prior History: (R.C. 119.032 review dates: 01/10/2014 and 01/10/2019
Promulgated Under: 111.15
Statutory Authority: 5120.01
Rule Amplifies: 5120.36
Prior Effective Dates: 1/20/73, 10/11/82, 7/18/83)