Posted by SANDRA LEE on 6/22/09 7:35pm
Msg #293142

Inmate Wristbands for ID in California

Are inmate wristbands with a photo acceptable as qualifying identification. The Handbook states as acceptable: an inmate id card issued by the Ca Dept. of Corrections and Rehab, if the inmate is in custody is among the acceptable documents.

Reply by LKT/CA on 6/22/09 7:59pm
Msg #293144

<<<Are inmate wristbands with a photo acceptable as qualifying identification.>>>

No

<<<The Handbook states as acceptable: an inmate id card issued by the Ca Dept. of Corrections and Rehab, if the inmate is in custody is among the acceptable documents. >>>

That's what you have to utilize to ID them, or if you are working with family and they happen to have the inmates state ID card or driver's license, use that. I know for a fact that at Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center and West Valley Detention Center, the inmates are required to have their ID card (issued by the CA Dept. of Corrections and Rehab) clipped to them at all times and it has their photo, booking number, and complete physical description. So for those two places, ID is not an issue. Not sure what is done for prison or other jails - since the inmates seem to try and make a weapon out of whatever they get.

Reply by CaliNotary on 6/22/09 11:23pm
Msg #293152

"<<<Are inmate wristbands with a photo acceptable as qualifying identification.>>>

No "

Why do you say that? If that's the only ID issued by the Dept of corrections, that's good enough for me. That it's in wristband form instead of card form is irrelevant. And I think it's perfectly reasonable to assume that the prison has done a proper job of identifying the person before putting them in jail, certainly more thorough than any notary would do.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 6/22/09 11:29pm
Msg #293154

But is it issued by the CA DOC? County jails and federal detention centers aren't run by the CA DOC. As I mentioned below, one ICE office told me that even though the ID they have is official, "It's probably not all true... and it's not the first time any of them have lied."

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 6/22/09 11:27pm
Msg #293153

No wristbands!

While some of the wristbands have digitized photos, they aren't sufficient.

The ID will all depend on the particular facility and the individual circumstances of the inmate or detainee. Sometimes their ID is in property, sometimes family members have it... or sometimes they don't have any ID at all.

Last week I had that problem. I get a lot of calls to the local immigration detention center. Most of all the detained men in Los Angeles County waiting on immigration hearings are there. A lot of them have multiple names and lots of fake IDs.

One of the resources for that facility is to have the detainee's ICE officer print his "Camp Card" for me. It's form I-385, the Alien Booking Record. It has the person's photo, fingerprint, dob, etc... but lacks a physical description and signature. Another big problem and even the ICE Officers will tell you that it's not always accurate... but that's the only official ID these guys often have.

So your best best is to use two credible witnesses. When it comes to getting two credible witnesses willing to appear at a jail and let their ID be recorded in my journal... well, that's another tall order when you're dealing with people who may not be here legally. And of course... those witnesses can only appear during visiting hours, which are often crowded and the wait is AWFUL. Notaries can usually cut in line, but other visitors can't. Major PITA.

So, what should be a 45-60 minute visit to a jail with somebody who has a valid ID can turn into a 3-4 hour ordeal during visiting hours.... and that's if the jail/prison will allow three visitors at once...and all three of them can appear.

In my case it worked out well, it only took 90 minutes because we got there at 7a m.

Reply by davidK/CA on 6/23/09 10:42am
Msg #293193

Re: No wristbands!

As usual, California's jumble of (perhaps not well thought out) laws relating to the duties of a Notary Public leads to as many questions as it does answers. This issue is a perfect example of that kind of problem.

Besides state prisons under the control of the CA Department of Corrections, there are many country jails as well as Federal prisons and detention centers, etc. that are on their own as far as CA notary law is concerned. These non-CA prison confinement centers also have inmates, and their administrations have their own sets of rules regarding identification of inmates, and they issue what documents, wristband, ID cards, etc. they feel is necessary for their own purposes without consoderation of notary law.

Here in CA we are now instructed to accept as proper ID "(An) employee identification card issued by an agency or office of the State of California, or an agency or office of a city, county, or city and county in California." There is a proposal in the State Legislature to adds the well-know broken Mexican Metricula Consular as valid ID, yet we have no official guidance of how to identity an inmate in custody who is not allowed to carry a driver license or have access to credible witnesses due to jail rules. Is this a stupid situation? Of course. Is there a solution? IMHO, it's not likely to be resolved in the near future, so as a Notary Public you have to put your commission in jeopardy every time you put yourself into a signing situation with an inmate who is not in a state prison.

Reply by MrEd_Ca on 6/23/09 11:24am
Msg #293207

Re: No wristbands! or ???...

... would the Inmate wristband issued by County Jail's (not the famous Inmate ID issued by the DOC) fit within the definition cited in the post of davidK/CA ...."(An) employee identification card issued by an agency or office of the State of California, or an agency or office of a city, county, or city and county in California". Maybe if the inmate were a jailhouse trustee?

Reply by davidK/CA on 6/23/09 11:40am
Msg #293210

Re: No wristbands! or ???...

Well they do sometimes get a small amount of money for work performed so maybe one could stretch the rules that far, but frankly it's an area where the written rules just don't seem to me to apply. Nice try, but I still think that a Notary Public is on the spot at any county jail in CA to conform with the law and refuse to notarize where there is no DOC ID card or other listed type of identification.

Reply by C7961 on 3/1/12 2:08pm
Msg #413631

Re: No wristbands!

Yes! I just spoke to the Secretary of State notary division. Each detention center is different. Our local West Valley Detention Center just told me that there is no signature on the inmate ID card. You are right, 2 credible witnesses would be best.