Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 103 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION › Title 103 CMR 483.00 - Visiting procedures › Section 483.07 - Department Standards for Institution Rules and Procedures

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(1) Each institution shall provide, at a
			 minimum, three visiting periods per week, with at least one period on a weekday
			 evening, and at least one period on the weekend. At least one visiting period
			 shall be provided on any identified holiday. A visiting period is considered a
			 three to four hour block of time.
(2) A maximum of two adults shall be
			 permitted to visit an inmate at the same time during any visiting period.
			 Minimum and Pre-release facilities may allow up to four adults. There shall be
			 no limitations on the number of children. However, the number of children
			 accompanying any parent/guardian must be of a number that can be adequately
			 supervised by the parent/guardian in the institution and a number that can be
			 accommodated by the institution's visiting room
(e.g.,
non-contact visiting area).
(3)
			 Visitors and inmates shall adhere to the following conduct guidelines while in
			 the visiting room:
(a) Excessive familiarity,
			 profanity, offensive behavior, or serious deviation from appropriate standards
			 of behavior in a public place, may result in administrative action, such as
			 verbal warning, termination of a visit, or loss of visiting
			 privileges;
(b) Commonly accepted
			 public displays of affection shall be allowed, which include one closed mouth
			 kiss/hug upon inception and conclusion. Anything that exceeds this standard,
			 shall receive a notice of discretionary caution;
(c) Disruptive behavior of any kind shall not
			 be tolerated;
(d) No straddling
			 chairs. Furniture is not to be rearranged;
(e) No sitting with one person's legs crossed
			 over another person's legs;
(f)
			 Feet shall remain visible at all times;
(g) No lying across or sitting on another's
			 lap.
Exceptions shall be made for children younger than eight years
				old, who may be allowed to sit on the accompanying parent/guardian's
				lap;
(h) When sitting, hands
			 shall be in plain sight at all times;
(i) Inmates and visitors shall not be allowed
			 to put their arms around each other when sitting or standing. The only
			 exception shall be once at the inception of the visit (greeting) and once at
			 the conclusion of the visit during departure;
(j) Inmates and visitors shall follow the
			 orders of the officers assigned to the visiting room and its related
			 areas;
(k) No article(s), with the
			 exception of food and beverage items as described in 103 CMR 483.07(3)(n),
			 shall be passed between visitors and inmates;
(l) Inmates and visitors are responsible for
			 cleaning up and throwing away trash, left over vending machine items, or
			 wrappers or purchased items during the visit;
(m) No cross visiting (visiting an inmate
			 other than the specifically approved inmate) is permitted between inmates and
			 visitors;
(n) If available,
			 visitors may purchase a beverage or food item and deliver it to the inmate they
			 are visiting. The visitor and inmate shall not be permitted to share any
			 beverage or food item at any time;
(o) At no time shall visitors and/or inmates
			 be allowed to change seats, unless directed to or given permission by a
			 visiting room staff member;
(p)
			 Interactions between an inmate and the visitor of another inmate or between
			 visitors are not allowed;
(q)
			 Possession or use of tobacco or alcohol products is prohibited;
(r) Parents or legal guardians shall be
			 responsible for an accompanying child's actions and behavior at all times.
			 Children shall not be allowed to engage in disruptive behavior or to roam the
			 visiting room or lobby unattended. This type of behavior may be grounds for
			 termination of the visit;
(s)
			 Visitors utilizing the restroom facilities or designated nursing areas may be
			 subject to a personal search prior to and upon reentering the visiting room
			 area. Failure to comply shall result in termination of the visit and suspension
			 of visiting privileges upon review by the Superintendent.