Section 103.40  News Media

a)         Representatives of the media may be admitted to correctional facilities with approval of the Director.  Access to facilities shall be limited to normal business hours whenever reasonable.

b)         Requests for interviews with correctional employees shall be referred to the Director.

c)         Face to face media interviews with committed persons under sentence of death shall not be permitted unless personally authorized by the Director. Other media coverage may be allowed by the Director or his or her designee. All such decisions shall be based upon, among other matters, the effect that an interview may have on the individual or other committed persons, and the effect upon safety, security, institutional order, or other penological concerns.

1)         Media representatives may not photograph or interview a committed person without first obtaining his or her written consent, the written consent of his or her guardian if the committed person is under age 17, and the approval of the Director.

2)         Members of the media may have access to committed persons under the same terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to members of the general public.

d)         Upon approval of a media request by the Director, the Director's office shall notify the Public Information Officer and the Deputy Director of the appropriate division.

(Source:  Amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 8311, effective July 1, 1996)