MORROW COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE
POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL
CORRECTION DIVISION
SECTION: Communication, Mail, and
Visitation
15-02
TITLE: Inmate Visitation
REFERENCE: Ohio Jail Standards
5120:1-8-07
EFF. DATE: January 1, 1996
REV. DATE: July 7, 1998
October 15, 1998
September 9, 1999
December 22, 2008
09/08/2015, 05/05/2017
I. POLICY:
Inmate visitation (family members, friends and professionals) providesa means by which the inmate can maintain contact with family andfriends and receive professional consultation to cope with personal andlegal problems.
Visits shall be restricted only if the jail administrator or designeedetermines that a visit is a threat to safety, security or bestinterests of the jail. The jail administrator or designee shalldocument restrictions in writing.
Visits between inmates and members of the public shall be monitoredAnd may be recorded by any means for safety and security reasons.
Visitors shall be required to provide valid identification.
II. PROCEDURE:
A. Non-Contact Visits/Non-Professional
1. All visitation shall be done by video visitation. The visit mustbe scheduled at least 12 hours in advance. All visits will beterminated 10 mins after the visit was scheduled if the visitorfails to log in online.
2. Non-contact visits will be held in the Visitation Area located in the public lobby as well as online via internet. An inmate entrance is located within the security perimeter. The area is located just inside the lobby. This area can be observed from the booking office without listening to conversations yet maintaining security and is secure that physically separates the inmate and visitor with capability for two-way conversation and non-obscured and/or video visitation.
3. Visitation Requirements:
- Visitors are required to be 18 years of age, or if under 18,to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A legal spouse thatis under 18 years of age may visit if they show legal proof ofmarriage. Visitors shall register upon entry into the jaillobby. The registry shall include the date, visitor name,inmate visited and length of the visit.
b. Persons with criminal records shall not be excluded from visiting.
c. Persons shown, by substantial evidence, to constitute a threat to the inmate or security of the jail will be excluded fromvisitation privileges.
d. Intoxicated (drugs or alcohol) visitors will not be allowed to visit an inmate.
e. Persons on Probation/Parole will not be allowed to visit without written permission from their Probation/Parole
Officer.
f. Parents are responsible for the conduct and safety of their children. Disruptive behavior by children is grounds for termination of the visit.
g. Visitors may be subject to a search upon entering or leaving the facility.
h. Loud, disruptive, or inappropriate behavior is grounds for termination of the visit.
i. Corrections staff has the authority to seat visitors or inmates at their discretion..
j. Visitors are expected to wear appropriate attire. TheVisitation Officer has the right to deny visitation for inappropriate attire.
1. No see-through clothing
2. No provocative shorts (such as short-shorts, Speedo’s etc.)
3. No clothing with gang/club insignia
4. No clothing with obscene gestures and/or language
5. No tank tops, tube tops, or muscle shirts
6. No bare midriffs
7. Shoes must be worn
8. Shirts must be worn
9. Appropriate undergarments must be worn (bra, slip underwear)
10. Skirts and dresses must be at the middle of the knee
k. Personnel supervising visits may give a verbal warning to inmates or visitors who fail to comply with the Jails’visitation rules. If a rule is broken for a second time, thevisit will be terminated and the visitor(s) will be asked to leave. Some violations will not require a warning.
3. Number of visitors: 1 adult and 2 children or 2 adults and 1
Child or 3 adults.
Visitation times / scheduling procedures:
The jail shall provide general visitation hours that provideinmates the opportunity for thirty minutes of visitation per week. If the jail utilizes video visitation, it will provideweekly general visitation hours that are supported by thevisitation system utilized, no less than twenty minutes perper visit. A schedule of visiting hours shell be posted ininmate and visitor areas or the jail website.
Inmates will be permitted 2 hour a week in 30 minute blocks, unless circ*mstances dictate a temporary suspension of visitation. Visitation will be allowed 7 days a week and times: 8am – 11am, 1pm – 2pm, 6pm – 8pm
The visiting times and rules will be posted in the public lobbyArea, in the Inmate Rules and Regulations and on our website.
A. visitor must make an appointment by scheduling online or inthe lobby on the visitation kiosk.
B. For video visitation in the lobby, each visitor will be
Positively identified at the inmate information window and then be directed to the visitation kiosk.
C. No cell phones are permitted during visits.
D. Proper identification:
1. Driver’s License
2. Ohio I.D. Card
3. Military I.D.
4. Valid verifiable photo identification card
5. Valid Passport
b. If questions arise over what constitutes acceptable identification, the Shift Supervisor/O.I.C. shall be contacted and resolve all issues.
5. Visitor Registration / Log Book:
a. All visitors are required to register online.
b. A computerized log will be maintained. The computerized logwill note the name of the inmate, visitor’s name, relationshipto the inmate, the time the visit is scheduled and the timethe visit ends. The information in the computerized log willbe entered into the inmate’s computer record.
6. Viewing of visitation:
The jail administrator or designee will monitor all scheduledvisits. Any misconduct will result in the visitor losing theprivilege of visiting any inmate in the facility.
7. Search of Visitors:
a. A sign shall be posted in the lobby warning the general public that any person who attempts to bring contraband, weapons orotherwise violate the security of the jail shall be subject to a search and prosecution.
b. A pat search may be conducted under the conditions cited in “7.a” above (with the Shift Supervisor/O.I.C. approval). Males will search males and females will search females. The visit will be denied if contraband or weapons are found on the visitor.
The Shift Supervisor/OIC shall be summoned and the visitor turned over to them for the filing of criminal charges.
c. Inmates shall be informed in writing that the visit was
- denied including the rationale for denial.
B. Special Visits and or Contact Visits:
- 1. Eligibility for Special Visit and or contact visits: Any special
- visit must be approved by the Sheriff or Jail Administrator. All
- visits, whether approved or denied, will be documented by
- utilizing the Special Visit Request form. This form will be
- completed by the Shift Supervisor/OIC and forwarded to the
- Jail Administrator for approval or denial. This document will
- be on file in the inmate file and visitation log. Visitors
- shall give at least twenty-four (24) hours’ notice of when they
- would like the special visit. Such visits will be conducted in the visitation area. Special visits may be granted when:
a. An event of personal significance has occurred for the inmate (i.e., death of spouse, sibling or parent), and the visit mayhelp to reduce the ill effects of the event on the inmate.
b. Other such circ*mstances which have prevented a visit from taking place at the regular scheduled time. No personalproperty or money will be taken or handed out during anyvisiting periods.
C. ICE detainees/Inmates may make requests for contact visits using the Special Visit Request form. These contact visits must be approved by both the Sheriff or Jail Administrator and the ICE Field Office. Due to the approval being needed by ICE these requests must be made three (3) business days in advance of the requested visit.
