Department Standards for Institution Rules and Procedures

(1) Each institution shall provide, at a minimum, three Visiting Periods per week, with at least one Visiting Period on a weekday evening, and at least one Visiting Period on the weekend. At least one Visiting Period shall be provided on any Holiday. 103 CMR 483.07(1) shall not apply to visitation for maximum security and special visiting populations, which is governed by 103 CMR 483.09. (2) The Commissioner may require that visitors schedule visits in advance to enhance the safety, security, and/or order of any institution. If the Commissioner decides, in their discretion, to implement advance scheduling of visits at institutions, the reason(s) for such determination shall be documented in writing and placed on file in the office of the Superintendent of each institution. Reasons for this requirement may include, but are not limited to, preventing overcrowding of institution visiting areas and/or lobbies, maximizing the length of visits between visitors and incarcerated individuals; preventing the introduction of contraband; and/or other reasons related to the security, safety, and/or orderly operation of the institution(s). (3) A maximum of two adults shall be permitted to visit an incarcerated or civilly committed individual at the same time during any Visiting Period. Minimum and Prerelease institutions may allow up to four adults. There shall be no limitations on the number of children. However, the number of children accompanying any parent/guardian must be of a number that can be adequately supervised by the parent/guardian in the institution and a number that can be accommodated by the institution's visiting area(s). (4) Visitors and incarcerated and civilly committed individuals shall adhere to the following conduct guidelines while in the visiting room: (a) Excessive familiarity, profanity, offensive behavior, or serious deviation from appropriate standards of behavior in a public place, may result in administrative action, such as verbal warning, termination of a visit, or loss of visiting privileges; (b) Commonly accepted public displays of affection shall be allowed, which include one closed mouth kiss/hug upon inception and conclusion. Anything that exceeds this standard, shall receive a notice of discretionary caution; (c) Disruptive behavior of any kind will not be tolerated; (d) No straddling chairs. Furniture is not to be rearranged; (e) No sitting with one person's legs crossed over another person's legs; (f) Feet shall remain visible at all times; (g) No lying across or sitting on another's lap. Exceptions shall be made for children younger than eight years old, who shall be allowed to sit on the accompanying and /or incarcerated parent/guardian's lap; (h) When sitting, hands shall be in plain sight at all times; (i) Incarcerated or civilly committed individuals and adult visitors shall sit across from one another, not side-by-side, at all medium and maximum-security institutions. Exceptions shall be made for children’s visiting areas. (j) Incarcerated or civilly committed individuals and visitors shall not be allowed to put their arms around each other when sitting or standing. The only exceptions shall be once at the inception of the visit (greeting) and once at the conclusion of the visit during departure; (k) Incarcerated or civilly committed individuals and visitors shall follow the orders of the officers assigned to the visiting room and its related areas; (l) No article(s), with the exception of food and beverage items as described in 103 CMR 483.07(4)(o), shall be passed between visitors and incarcerated or civilly committed individuals; (m) Incarcerated or civilly committed individuals and visitors are responsible for cleaning up and throwing away trash, leftover vending machine items, or wrappers or purchased items during the visit; (n) No cross visiting (visiting an incarcerated or civilly committed individual other than the specifically approved incarcerated or civilly committed individual) is permitted between incarcerated or civilly committed individuals and visitors; (o) If available, visitors may purchase a beverage or food item and deliver it to the incarcerated or civilly committed individual they are visiting. The visitor and incarcerated or civilly committed individual shall not be permitted to share any beverage or food item at any time; (p) At no time shall visitors and/or incarcerated or civilly committed individuals be allowed to change seats, unless directed to or given permission by a visiting room staff member; (q) Interactions between an incarcerated or civilly committed individual and the visitor of another incarcerated or civilly committed individual or between visitors are not allowed; (r) Possession or use of tobacco or alcohol products or unauthorized controlled substances is prohibited; (s) Parents or legal guardians shall be responsible for an accompanying child's actions and behavior at all times. Children shall not be allowed to engage in disruptive behavior or to roam the visiting room or lobby unattended. This type of behavior may be grounds for termination of the visit; (t) Visitors utilizing the restroom facilities or designated nursing areas may be subject to a personal search prior to and upon reentering the visiting room area. Failure to comply shall result in termination of the visit and may result in the suspension of visiting privileges upon review by the Superintendent. (5) Any disruptive action which threatens the security of the institution shall result in termination of the visit upon approval by the Shift Commander. Following such incidents, each visiting area officer(s) shall submit a written report to the Superintendent before completing their tour of duty at that post. All details concerning the reason(s) for termination of the visit shall be noted. (6) All institution visiting rules shall be enforced. (7) Each Superintendent shall post available forms of nearby public transportation, such as specific MBTA lines and busses, in a conspicuous location at the entrance or lobby of the institution.