Inmate Visiting Protocol

1116.01 Inmates are allowed a minimum of one hour of visiting per week.

1. One child and one adult are allowed in the secured visiting rooms at one time. Time will not be divided among different visitors (no switching).
2. Visiting schedules may change to accommodate the needs of the facility.  Current visiting schedules are posted throughout the facility, on the Sheriff’s website, on the information board in the Lobby and Jail phone messaging recording.  The day of the week and time of visiting for each housing unit shall be posted in each housing area,
3. Visiting will be on a first come – first served basis.  It is highly suggested that visitors check in at least 30 minutes early.
4. COVID positive inmates will not be allowed any in-person visiting.
5. All inmate visiting is non-contact.

1116.02 Visitor Identification and Sign-in

1. Visitors must provide valid identification (i.e., driver’s license, identification card, Military ID, passport, Matricula Consular ID Card, or government issued identification).  Identification may vary widely, and Deputies shall be reasonable in interpreting what constitutes “valid” identification.  The purpose of requiring identification is not to prevent visits but to identify and record persons visiting inmates in Jail.  Unacceptable identification includes Social Security cards, bank cashing cards, student ID cards, or other unofficial identification and any expired valid identifications/documents.
2. Visitors shall complete an Inmate Visiting Card (SO Form 155) for each inmate visited.
3. Visitors may only visit one inmate per day.  Exceptions can only be approved through the Shift Sergeant or Jail Operations Commander.

1116.03 Visitation by Minor Children

1. Persons under the age of 18 shall be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. It is the responsibility of the visitor to provide satisfactory proof of their relationship.  Proof may be in the form of a birth certificate or guardianship documents.
2. Persons without guardianship documentation shall be authorized to visit if they provide a notarized letter from the inmate-parent designating them as the child’s caretaker and temporary guardian.  The caretaker’s name shall be on the notarized letter.  The name shall be verified with the visitor’s ID.  The name on the notarized letter shall be compared with the child’s birth certificate.
3. Persons under 18 that are married to an inmate must provide proof of emancipation and proof of marriage unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

1116.04 COVID-19 Related Procedures for Visitors

1. All visitors are encouraged to wear a face mask/covering during the entirety of their visit, but it is not mandatory unless by order of the Department of Public Health and/or the Chief of Corrections.
2. If a community outbreak of the COVID-19 virus is announced by the Department of Public Health, visitors (age 2 and up) may be asked to present either a valid COVID-19 vaccination card or a copy of a COVID-19 test that shows negative results within the past 72-hours.  Visitors without proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test will not be allowed to visit.  This mandate would be announced prior to visiting as ordered by the Chief of Corrections.

1116.05 Visiting Procedures for Inmates in Infirmary Housing

1. If the inmate can leave Infirmary housing, visits shall be conducted in the non-contact visiting rooms.
2. If the inmate cannot leave Infirmary housing and there is no medical reason for the inmate to be isolated (e., contagious diseases or security risk), the Jail Operations Commander will review the possibility of having the family visit in the Infirmary.  If approved, the following restrictions apply:

a. Adults only
b. Must be members of the immediate family
c. Must meet visitor identification and sign-in requirements
d. Visitors shall be limited to one person.
e. Visitors shall not be authorized to take personal items (e., purses or coats) into the Infirmary.

1116.06 Visiting Procedures for Inmates in the Hospital

1. Inmates housed at the hospital, not under the security of a Deputy or contract security guard, shall be allowed visitation under the policy of regular patient visiting at the hospital.
2. Inmates housed at the hospital under security of a Deputy or contract security guard shall be allowed visiting under the jail regulations and guidelines set forth in Procedures for Guards at Hospitals.

1116.07 Public Visiting Rules

1. Visitors may only visit one inmate at a time.
2. Cameras, tape recorders, cell phones and other electronic devices are prohibited and may be confiscated.  A crime report and evidence receipt shall be completed.
3. Bringing firearms, explosives, alcoholic beverages, narcotics, or any controlled substances into the facility or on facility grounds is a crime and cause for arrest.
4. Visitors shall be appropriately attired.  Visitors shall wear shoes or sandals.  Visitors shall be fully clothed.  Shorts or skirts shall not expose more than mid-thigh.  This includes slits in the garments.  Buttons and zippers shall remain fastened.  Persons attempting to visit with the following types of clothing shall be prohibited from visiting:

a. Transparent clothing, tank tops, mini skirts, or short shorts.
b. Strapless, halter, spaghetti straps or bare midriff clothing.
c. Attire displaying obscene or offensive language or drawings.
d. Articles of clothing that may be deemed gang colors, including but not limited to ball caps, belts, bandanas, shoes, etc.

1. Visitors under the influence of alcohol or drugs shall be denied visiting and are subject to arrest.
2. Visitors who do not control their minor children shall be required to leave.
3. Visitors causing a disturbance shall be required to leave.
4. Visits of persons violating visiting rules shall be terminated.   The Facility Captain shall be notified when severe violations occur.  The Facility Captain may restrict visiting privileges for a specified period of time.
5. Visitors who leave the visiting area shall not be allowed to return unless approved by the visiting deputy.
6. Smoking, vaping, chewing tobacco, and gum are prohibited in the visiting area.
7. Diaper bags and purses are prohibited.  Visitors may bring in one diaper and one bottle for infants.
8. Parolees are prohibited from visiting unless they have written permission from their parole agent.
9. Convicted felons shall be required to fill out the convicted felon form (4571PC) prior to visiting. Convicted felons must have pre-approval from the Facility Commander to visit.

1116.08 Search of Visitors

1. When there is a reasonable suspicion that a visitor may be concealing contraband, probable cause to justify a search shall be relayed to the on-duty Jail Sergeant.  Upon approval of the strip search, the following steps shall be taken:

a. The Deputy shall advise the visitor that they are not allowed to visit without submitting to an unclothed search. The Deputy shall advise the visitor of their right to refuse
b. If the visitor refuses the search, the visitor shall be allowed to leave the facility, losing the visiting privilege on that date only.
c. If the visitor agrees to the unclothed search, the visitor shall be required to sign a Consent to Search form.
d. Strip searches are to be conducted by Deputies of the same sex.

2. The Deputy conducting the search shall write an incident report describing the reason for the search and what was found. The Consent to Search form shall be attached to the incident report and forwarded to the Jail Operations Commander.