NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS MEDIA POLICY OVERVIEW

Dear Media Representative:

The New Hampshire Department of Corrections makes every effort to cooperate when facilitating media requests for inmate interviews. There are policies and procedures that we follow and I would like to make you aware of them here.

1. The New Hampshire Department of Corrections, Office of Public Information facilitates all requests for interviews with New Hampshire State Prison inmates. Requests must be placed in writing, preferably at least 48 hours in advance and sent to this office. While the 48 hours is preferable, on rare occasions interviews can happen more quickly than that depending on the inmate's response time and staff escort availability. That is the exception, not the rule. Note: We understand the nature of deadlines, but it is not department policy to compel an inmate into making a quick response.
2. The letter should include the name of the requestor, the name of the media outlet, the name of the inmate, and any equipment that you may need to use (i.e. tape recorders, cameras, etc.). The letter should include the names of all media representatives that would participate in the interview.
3. The inmate receives a copy of the written request and a NH-DOC interview consent form. The inmate agrees or disagrees and the signed form is returned to the Office of Public Information. If the inmate agrees, a time can be scheduled. It is preferable for the interview to occur during the inmate's regular visitation schedule, but exceptions can be made with the approval of the Warden or the Commissioner's office.
4. Inmates are under no obligation to accept interviews. It is their choice. If an inmate declines to be interviewed further requests to the same individual from the same media outlet or representative will not be forwarded to that inmate for at least three months.
5. Inmates may request that members of the media be placed on their visiting list. Media representatives should not request to be placed on an inmate's visiting list without the inmate's consent. Note: Addition to an inmate's visitation list requires a complete criminal background check. The inmate has full access to his/her visiting list and all of the information therein including the visitor's driver's license number and Social Security number.
6. Media may write to inmates in prison and inmates may choose to respond or disregard that correspondence. Department staff will not "pass on messages" to inmates to find out if they received the letter. Note: It is department policy to screen all letters coming from and going to the prison to check for contraband. Inmates open legal correspondences from counsel in the presence of staff.
7. Media may not telephone an inmate in prison. An inmate has a telephone list similar to a visiting list. The inmate may request that members of the media be added to or removed from that list with at least 24 hours notice. All inmate calls to media (and all members of the public) will be "collect." A recorded message will indicate that the call is from the New Hampshire State Prison.
8. Inmates have no contact with the public during the first 30 days of their incarceration while they are in quarantine. One-on-one interviews are prohibited during this time.
9. Under DOC policy, inmates that are housed in the Special Housing Unit (maximum security) have limited contact with the public. One-on-one interviews with inmates in SHU are prohibited.
10. Inmates who are under administrative review often lose visiting and/or telephone privileges. During that period of time, inmate interviews with the media will be prohibited. Note: Letters may be exchanged in any of the last three instances.
11. The department makes every effort to allow reasonable free expression and discussion between media and inmate. Generally, staff will not intrude on the interview. However, media should be aware that equipment searches and staff observation might occur at any time. Media could also be removed from the facility if any rules violations occur or someone's personal safety is at risk.
12. Media interviews will occur in the visiting room of the facility or in an area designated by the Warden or Commissioner's office that will not disrupt the orderly operation of the prison. Interviews are prohibited in the inmate's cell, housing unit, prison yard, or any other location on the grounds that we deem to be a security concern for the facility. Cameras and/or other recording devices are permitted in designated areas of each facility as long as it is coordinated in advance
13. Members of the media cannot give items to inmates during an interview. This is a violation of RSA 622:24, which prohibits the "Delivery of Articles to Prisoners." This is a Class-B felony. Likewise, inmates cannot give items to a media representative during the interview.

While we agree on the importance of keeping the public and your audience informed about what we do, we have developed these policies to allow as much public access as possible while maintaining a high level of security. We appreciate your cooperation on this.

Any interview requests should be sent to NH Dept. of Corrections, Jeff Lyons, Public Information Officer, PO Box 1806, Concord, NH 03302-1806. Phone: (603) 271-5602. To speed up the process we welcome these requests by fax at (603) 271-5643 or by e-mail.