NCJ Number
63931
Date Published
1979
Length
80 pages
Annotation
THE VISITATION PROGRAM FOR INMATES OF THE NEW HAVEN COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
A MAJOR REVISION IN THE VISITING POLICY AND PROCEDURES TOOK PLACE WHEN THE NEW CORRECTIONAL CENTER OPENED IN 1976. VISITING PROGRAM OBJECTIVES WERE TO PROVIDE LONGER AND MORE FREQENT VISITING PERIODS, TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO COULD VISIT THOSE CONFINED, AND TO PROVIDE INMATES WITH GREATER ACCESS TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THE MAJOR GOAL OF THE PROGRAM WAS TO STRENGTHEN THE INMATES' COMMUNITY AND FAMILY TIES, INCREASE INMATES' MORALE, AND EASE TENSIONS. THROUGH A SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION AND SECURITY PROCEDURES, VISITING ARRANGEMENTS ALLOW FOR MORE PERSONAL CONTACT BETWEEN INMATES AND VISITORS. VISITING IS PERMITTED 7 DAYS A WEEK AT SCHEDULED HOURS. REGULATIONS ARE SPECIFIED IN THE INMATE HANDBOOK WHICH EACH INMATE RECEIVES UPON ADMISSION. ONCE THE VISITING LIST IS ESTABLISHED AND THE POTENTIAL VISITORS CONTACTED, THE INMATE MAY BE VISITED BY ANYONE ON THE LIST WHO REQUESTS TO SEE HIM DURING SCHEDULED HOURS. FIVE BASIC TYPES OF VISITS ARE POSSIBLE. SECURE VISITS FOR WHICH INMATES ARE SEPARATED FROM VISITORS BY A GLASS SECURITY BARRIER AND INMATES COMMUNICATE THROUGH INDIVIDUAL TELEPHONE STATIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL. OPEN VISITS, ALLOWING MORE PERSONAL CONTACT BETWEEN INMATES AND VISITORS TAKE PLACE IN THE MULTIPURPOSE ROOM WHICH SERVES ALSO AS A REACTION CENTER. TWO VISITORS FOR 30 MINUTES PER DAY ARE ALLOWED. CENTER POLICY GENERALLY RESTRICTS VISITING TO PERSONS OVER 16 YEARS OF AGE, WITH EXCEPTIONS MADE FOR INMATE FATHERS OF YOUNG CHILDREN. EXTENDED VISITS ARE PERMITTED UNDER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS ILLNESS IN THE FAMILY. PROFESSIONAL VISITS BY A DEFENSE ATTORNEY, A MEMBER OF A COMMUNITY SUPPORT AGENCY, OR A REPRESENTATIVE OF A RELIGIOUS AGENCY TAKE PLACE IN A SMALL CONFERENCE ROOM AND ARE UNMONITORED. DIAGRAMS, A FOOTNOTE, AND APPENDED EXHIBITS ARE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT. (LWM)