Our office is often beset with requests to smuggle in items to a person in custody when we visit the client. The client’s family may want us to take a video of the inmate, give him glasses or even money.

While we cannot do this, the request is often made because many know that attorneys often are allowed face to face meetings with an inmate wherein the attorney can shake the client’s hand, hand him documents to review and have the client draw diagrams or pictures. In other words, often an attorney does not need to speak to the client via a handset behind a thick pane of glass.

For non-attorneys there are certain restrictions. The following recent case exemplifies why it is important to protect oneself when visiting a jail.

On September 29, 2011,the Second District Court of Appeals upheld the conviction of Brian Boulter for possession of a controlled substance, among other charges, after he was arrested while visiting a friend at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles.

When one such as Boulter enters the jail, there is a sign that states: “Warning: persons entering this area are subject to the laws affecting a custody facility. You and your possessions are subject to search at any time.” A sign was also posted by the lockers for visitors, saying that no cameras, cell phones, recording devices or purses were allowed inside the visitor’s center.

Boulter had a camera with him inside the visitor’s center, which is prohibited, so officers at the jail arrested him for that. Upon searching him, they also found keys in his pocket that were to two lockers for visitors to the jail. The lockers were on jail property. The officers then searched the lockers and found a substance resembling methamphetamine, twelve pills and a scale.

Boulter was then charged with possession for sale of a controlled substance (Health and Safety Code