What must staff avoid during a disciplinary hearing according to CDCR guidelines?

Providing legal advice to the inmate during a disciplinary hearing is a clear violation of the guidelines set forth by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). The role of the staff in these hearings is to act as impartial adjudicators rather than advocates or legal representatives. By giving legal advice, staff may compromise the integrity of the hearing process and create conflicts of interest. This separation ensures that the proceedings are fair and adhere to established legal standards. The focus of the staff should be on maintaining order and facilitating a fair hearing, ensuring that the disciplinary process is conducted properly and within the framework of CDCR policies.

In contrast, assisting the inmate in preparing defenses might be seen as providing necessary support to ensure that the hearing is fair, while recording the proceedings is typically standard practice for accountability purposes. Allowing inmate requests for special privileges would not align with the objective of maintaining discipline and order within the correctional facility. Therefore, the emphasis on not providing legal advice highlights the importance of maintaining an impartial and structured disciplinary process.