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Correctional facility visitation suspended until April 11

Starting at 5 p.m. today, visitation at all correctional facilities is suspended until April 11 due to concerns with the coronavirus, the state

Department of Corrections and Community Supervision announced.

The agency is responsible for the safety, health, rehabilitation, and supervision of nearly 44,000 incarcerated individuals and over 35,000 individuals on community supervision through the efforts of nearly 30,000 employees.

In a news release today, the department said its “greatest concern is the safety and well-being of our employees and individuals within our care, custody, and supervision, particularly during this developing public health emergency. To that end, the Department must swiftly impose restrictions and precautions to prevent additional spread of infectious viral transmission of COVID-19 in both correctional facilities and the community writ large.”

The Department will closely monitor the situation and extend these restrictions as necessary. While this suspension of visitation will be temporary, the Department recognizes the immediate impact on incarcerated individuals throughout the correctional system. However, the current situation demands this significant action to safeguard the health and safety of all incarcerated individuals, employees, as well as their families and communities.

While in-person visitation will be impossible to replace, the Department will provide the following benefits to encourage individuals to keep in contact with their family and friends during this temporary suspension:

Five (5) free stamps per week for use in accordance with Directive #4422, “Inmate Correspondence Program,”

Two (2) free secure messages per week via electronic tablet, and

One (1) free phone call per week in accordance with Directive #4423 “Inmate Telephone Calls.”

This suspended visitation also applies to family reunion programs. However, legal visits will not be impacted by this visitation suspension. Legal visits will be conducted as non-contact (i.e. no physical contact allowed), as requests are submitted, and that option remains available within the facilities.

“During this difficult time, the Department is appreciative of everyone’s patience and understanding as we continue to face this virus together,” the department stated.

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