US · guidance
Justice Manual § 1-7.710
Assisting the News Media
DOJ personnel shall not prevent lawful efforts by the news media to record or report about a matter, unless by reason of a court order. DOJ personnel may enforce access restrictions that apply to all persons, such as a crime scene perimeter.
In order to promote the aims of law enforcement, including the deterrence of criminal conduct and the enhancement of public confidence, DOJ personnel, with the prior approval of the appropriate United States Attorney or Assistant Attorney General, may assist the news media in recording or reporting on a law enforcement activity. The United States Attorney or Assistant Attorney General shall consider, among other things, whether such assistance would:
Unreasonably endanger any individual;
Prejudice the rights of any person; or
Be otherwise proscribed by law.
In cases where a search warrant or arrest warrant is to be executed, no advance information will be provided to the news media without the express approval of the appropriate United States Attorney or Assistant Attorney General. This requirement also applies to operations in preparation for the execution of a warrant.
History
[updated April 2018]
Provenance
- Source
- justice.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-20
- Edition
- jm-2026-09-20
- Content hash
d2546ac49288522b4316410f1a3746e329bbdb80f658ce01956898fa4c29ee5a
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