1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the warden or manager of an institution or facility shall ensure that no offender in the institution or facility, or in a vehicle of the Department, has access to a telecommunications device.

2. An offender may use a telephone or, for the purpose of communicating with his or her child pursuant to NRS 209.42305, any other approved telecommunications device subject to the limitations set forth in NRS 209.419.

3. An offender may use an approved telecommunications device for the purpose of conducting a visit or correspondence which is authorized pursuant to NRS 209.423, subject to the limitations set forth in NRS 209.419.

4. The Department may enter into an agreement with an offender authorizing the offender to use a telecommunications device to facilitate or participate in correctional activities or to perform educational, vocational or legal research, subject to the limitations set forth in NRS 209.419.

5. The Director may, with the approval of the Board, adopt regulations authorizing an offender who is assigned to transitional housing, a center for the purpose of making restitution pursuant to NRS 209.4827 to 209.4843, inclusive, or a specific program of education or vocational training authorizing the offender to use a telecommunications device:

(a) To access a network, including, without limitation, the Internet, for the purpose of:

(1) Obtaining educational or vocational training that is approved by the Department;

(2) Searching for or applying for employment; or

(3) Performing essential job functions.

(b) For any other purpose if a telecommunications device is required by an employer of the offender to perform essential job functions.

6. As used in this section, “telecommunications device” means a device, or an apparatus associated with a device, that can enable an offender to communicate with a person outside of the institution or facility at which the offender is incarcerated. The term includes, without limitation, a telephone, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a transmitting radio or a computer that is connected to a computer network, is capable of connecting to a computer network through the use of wireless technology or is otherwise capable of communicating with a person or device outside of the institution or facility.

(Added to NRS by 1999, 2712; A 2007, 71; 2011, 2667; 2015, 3080; 2017, 3655, 3660)