Serving Orange County Since 1959
Defendant In-Custody Telephone Calls
- Immediately upon being booked, and, except where physically impossible, no later than three hours after arrest, an arrested person has the right to make at least three completed telephone calls, as described in subdivision(b). The arrested person shall be entitled to make at least three such calls at no expense if the calls are completed to telephone numbers within the local calling area.
- At any police facility or place where an arrestee is detained, a sign containing the following information in bold block type shall be posted in a conspicuous place: That the arrestee has the right to free telephone calls within the local dialing area, or at his own expense if outside the local area, to three of the following:
- An attorney of his choice or, if he has no funds, the public defender or other attorney assigned by the court to assist indigents, whose telephone number shall be posted. This phone call shall not be monitored, eavesdropped upon, or recorded.
- A bail bondsman.
- A relative or other person.
- These telephone calls shall be given immediately upon request, or as soon as practicable.
- This provision shall not abrogate a law enforcement officer's duty to advise a suspect of his right to counsel or of any other right.
- Any public officer or employee who willfully deprives an arrested person of any right granted by this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.