Court Opinion

ID: 9547740
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 17:51:18.365258+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:18:02.157628
License: Public Domain

MOSK, J.
Idissent.
*882The basic question before us, as posed by petitioners, is whether the detainees and their visitors have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their jailhouse conversations. The majority blithely assume the answer by speaking in terms of a constitutional right of privacy in a jail (ante, p. 876). The concept of one purporting to enjoy privacy while he is under legally authorized supervision would appear to be a monumental anomaly. Nevertheless it is urged that whether such expectation can reasonably exist in the necessarily controlled environment of a jail depends upon the subjective beliefs of the participants.
The subjective is always an elusive matter for analysis. It might be anticipated that an inmate of sophistication, even one of average intelligence, would understand that his ability to communicate in total confidence is likely to be curtailed while he is behind bars. On the other hand, it may also be anticipated that a person of limited experience, perhaps also of limited education and comprehension, might naively believe he could speak freely without any monitoring by authorities who are merely holding him for trial.
It appears to me that there is a remarkably simple solution to the problem: there can be no I reasonable expectation of privacy by anyone in a jailhouse if an adequate warning to the contrary is given. This can be accomplished by the posting of signs in the visiting room advising all persons that their conversations may be overheard and recorded by those in charge of the jail. The warning should be large enough to be readily observed, uncomplicated enough to be easily understood, and should be posted so as to be readable by both detainees and visitors. In communities with a substantial number of residents speaking Spanish, Chinese or other foreign languages, the signs should be both in English and the appropriate languages.
Since counsel for respondent, at oral argument, conceded a general willingness to post warning notices, I see no need for the courts to intervene at this time in order to attempt to accomplish much the same purpose. Therefore, I would deny the writ.