NCJ Number
189024
Journal
American Jails Volume: 14 Issue: 5 Dated: November/December 2000 Pages: 19-21
Date Published
2000
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes security procedures used by the Norfolk County Sheriff's Office (Massachusetts) to screen visitors to the jail.
Abstract
Following statute law and sheriff's office policy, each inmate is allowed the privilege of having five persons approved by the sheriff and superintendent to visit him/her while in custody. All visitors who request approval must submit a preapproval form. The form contains a list of personal questions, including current driving privileges and status. The completed form is submitted to the Sheriff's Office Information Services Division, and a complete background check is conducted. The background check involves determining the current motor vehicle status of the visitor, any adult arraignments and court summaries, any suicidal ideations, any outstanding arrest warrants, and any restraining orders by the inmate against the visitor. Prospective visitors can be refused an inmate visit due to open criminal justice cases, outstanding warrants, victim-witness petitions, nonconfirmed aliases or undocumented alien status, outstanding/active restraining orders on both the inmate and/or visitor, failure to provide truthful information on the visitor preapproval form, known security threat group membership validation, and previous facility inmate resident. 12 notes