Attorney asked to Turn Over Confidential Documents at Belize Central Prison  

While attempting to conduct a visitation to one of her clients at the Belize Central Prison, attorney Leslie Mendez was asked by security to hand over her documents for a search. Mendez explained that because her documents are subject to attorney-client privilege, she could not hand them over for inspection. Mendez claims that as her documents contained confidential information regarding a client who intended to challenge the decision of the parole board, she had a legitimate reason to deny security access to these papers. We spoke with Mendez earlier today, who explained how she handled the situation.

 

Leslie Mendez, Attorney at Law

“So on that day, this was in early May, I visited the prison to try to gain access to my clients to offer further legal advice, take instructions, etc. On that day, it was there was a different, slightly different process where usually when I arrive, I’m taken to the security booth immediately so that I’m searched. But this time I was directed to a counter where they asked to inspect my documents.  When they asked to inspect my documents, I immediately indicated that I wouldn’t be able to allow them to inspect those documents because they are subject to attorney client privilege. And I cannot allow them to see that. It is my duty to protect attorney client privilege. So I can’t simply just give them access to my documents.  Nonetheless, I inquired what the concern is about. So what is it exactly that they’re looking for?  And perhaps you could find a different way to address the concern. And they indicated that they were Concerned about, smuggling monies or anything else through the file and the documents. And so what I offered to do is that I told them, and again trying to just collaborate, I appreciate that the prison does have legitimate concerns and they need to manage and they need to regulate access and their processes. So I, offered that I could turn over the sheets so that they don’t have sight of the actual text and we can sift through each sheet so that I could satisfy them that I’m not smuggling anything  and that there’s nothing objectionable in my file.  We did that but the guards were still  very much dissatisfied and quite peeved.”