Reentry Center Visits

The Department of Corrections (DOC) recognizes the vital role families and friends play in the reentry process and supports residents in maintaining ties with family, friends, and the community. Per DOC 450.310 Visits & Social Outings for Reentry Center Residents (pdf), the department allows and sets reasonable criteria for visits and social outings.

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Visiting Resources
• Reentry Centers Contact Us

Visiting Guidelines

• Contact visitation will resume except where otherwise prohibited by policy.
• In-facility visitation is authorized for those individuals not yet approved for social outings or if sponsors do not have means to facilitate social outings
• Visitors may only schedule one visiting session at a time, multiple visitations cannot be scheduled in advance.
• Between one to six approved visitors of any age may visit the incarcerated individual depending on facility visitation area size and capacity restrictions. The visiting party may not exceed the designated capacity of the facility visitation area. Infants and children are counted as visitors.
• Approved visitors may schedule visits for two (2) hours/up to two (2) hours on days and time periods designated by each facility.
• Visitors must schedule in advance to reserve their visitation day and time by contacting Reentry Centers.
• Check-in, active screening, and security screening will impact visit duration.
• Facility emergencies may impact operations; these are unforeseen and visitation may not occur.
• Searches have fully resumed, and all persons are subject to search. Refusal to submit to the security screening process, including searches, will be cause for the denial of entry and potentially suspension of visitation privileges.
• In cases of limited area outbreak or facility outbreak, visitation may be suspended. Visitors who had a confirmed visit session during outbreak will not be guaranteed a rescheduled visit in the same month. Corrections will continue to utilize the visit alert process when time permits.

Scheduling

Visitors may contact the reentry center for visiting times and coordinate with the individual for visits at the facility. Available times and days for visiting will be determined by each reentry center and resources available.

Transitioning to In-facility Two (2) Hour Visits

As of August 16, 2021, reentry will resume scheduling contact visits for residents not yet approved for social outings or if sponsors do not have means to facilitate social outings, except where otherwise prohibited by policy. Visits are encouraged and are scheduled for up to 2 hours.

Arrival

Visitors who arrive late for their confirmed visiting session will be processed into the facility and allowed to visit until the end of the scheduled time and will not be extended.

Visit Room

• Restroom use is permitted during the visit session.
• Photos, games, vending machines and the children’s area will not be available during visits at this time.
• Masks may only be down while a person is actively taking a drink of water and must immediately be pulled back into appropriate positioning at the conclusion of the drink.

Rules

• A brief hug at the beginning and again at the end of the visit is permitted. Hand holding above the table and in plain view and touching of the arm from the wrist to elbow are also permitted. No other physical contact is permitted.
• Children 8 years of age and younger are permitted to hug, be held by and/or sit in the laps of parents and approved escorts throughout the visit session as long as there are no prohibitions in place that prevent such contact.
• For infants and toddlers up to 24 months the following items are allowed and must be stored in a clear plastic bag or container:
• Two empty, clear plastic bottles that can be filled with water, juice, milk, or formula.
• One plastic Tupperware-type child’s cup with lid.
• Two unopened plastic containers of formula, juice, or other infant-specific fluids (e.g., Pedialyte). Breast milk may be allowed if it is in a clear plastic bottle that employees are able to inspect.
• Two unopened plastic containers of baby/snack food in their original packaging with one plastic baby spoon
• Two bibs
• Two pacifiers or teething objects
• One non-quilted child’s blanket
• One change of baby clothing
• One disposable diaper per hour of the visit
• Baby wipes that have been transferred to a zip lock plastic bag before the visit
• If facility resources are available, nursing mothers may be asked to relocate to a non-restroom location identified by facility employees. If there is no suitable location for nursing, mothers may nurse in the visit room, provided they maintain reasonable modesty while nursing.
• Socializing with others not in your own visit party will result in termination of both visit sessions.
• Any violations of touch, mask removal, etc. will cause for the visit to be terminated. Suspensions may be applied for the visitor(s) and the disciplinary process may be applied for the incarcerated individual.

Required Infection Control Practices

• Visiting rooms, tables, chairs, restrooms and high touch surface areas will be sanitized between visit sessions.
• Hand sanitizer must be used before entering the visit room. Incarcerated individuals will also need to use hand sanitizer before entering as well as prior to leaving the visit room.
• Capacity will continue to be reduced in the visiting rooms to support social distancing between visit groups.
• All persons aged two years (24 months) and older must wear a DOC issued face mask. These masks are disposable. Adult and children’s sizes will be provided.
• Masks must be worn at all times during the visit over the nose and mouth with the ear loops over both ears and the nose piece adjusted to a tightened fit.
  • Masks may only be down while a person is actively taking a drink of water and must immediately be pulled back into appropriate positioning at the conclusion of the drink.
• Directional arrows route foot traffic through high volume areas and other strategies may be in place which could cause a delay in movement. These protocols are dependent on time, plant layout and other factors, and may look slightly different from facility to facility. Be aware of and follow posted signage.