PRECEPTS:

PRECEPTS: 1. General A. All requests for tours will be authorized by the Superintendent, in consultation with the Tour Director or designee. B. Tours will be scheduled in order to avoid any disruption of the normal activities of the facility. Access to high security areas (i.e., control centers, segregation units, armory) will be limited. C. All tour participants must be 14 years of age and older. D. All tour participants will be required to show picture identification (i.e., driver’s license, school identification card, military identification card or state identification card) and sign a Tour Waiver of Liability form. E. Any tour participant who is an ex-offender of any correctional facility must receive prior approval of the Superintendent to tour the facility. F. MDOC employees may transport approved individuals or groups in state vehicles. G. Tour records will be maintained at each facility for a minimum of one year with the following information: Name of group and sponsor, Number of persons on tour and Time and date of tour 2. Facility Contraband Warnings In accordance with each MDOC facility’s physical layout, signs are posted at facility entrances specifying those items deemed to be contraband by agency security and the subsequent penalty for violating said prohibitions. The signs contain the following information: Attention all Visitors and Vendors At all times while on the grounds of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, you are subject to search of your person, vehicles, personal property, or any/all items you may have in your possession. Guns, knives, ammunition, alcohol, drugs, weapons, or any instrument or tool that may be used as a weapon or any other items declared by this institution to be contraband are strictly forbidden. Contraband will be confiscated and violators will be prosecuted. 3. All persons entering the facility will be subject to search. All tour participants must adhere to specific rules regarding non-allowable items. State law prohibits weapons, alcohol, drugs and illegal contraband on state property, including parking areas. i. The scope of searches includes persons, vehicles, personal property and allowable items. ii. Non-Allowable items include: A. Guns, knives, ammunition, weapons, any instrument that can be used as a weapon B. Alcohol, drugs C. No medicines unless prior approval D. Electronic devices (i.e., pagers, cellular telephones or any of its components or accessories, palm pilots, walkie-talkies, tape recorders) E. Cameras, video cameras F. Extra clothing G. Any item declared by MDOC as contraband 4. Sponsors/Chaperones are expected to inform tour participants of Section 47-5-193 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 that addresses contraband and the prison. Possession of contraband on the grounds of a prison facility may result in a felony conviction. 5. MDOC will not be held responsible for lost, stolen or damaged personal possessions that belong to tour participants while they are on the grounds of an MDOC facility. 6. Dress Code Tour participants entering the institution must meet the dress code. MDOC security staff and/or the Welcome Center Manager will check all individuals for Security Threat Group items. Clothing containing picture logos, slogans or vulgarity is prohibited. Any revealing attire made of spandex, translucent or transparent material is considered inappropriate. i. Males A. No pants pulled down below the hip line B. All pants must be worn with belts C. No shorts, cut-off shorts, jogging shorts or biking shorts D. No overalls or suspenders E. All tee-shirts must be tucked in F. No tank tops, sleeveless tops or bare midriffs G. Underwear must be worn H. Shoes must be worn. Thongs, flip-flops and slides are not allowed I. No blue or red shoelaces J. No excessive jewelry except a wedding ring, religious medallion or medical alert bracelet K. No dangling earrings – stud type only L. No hats, caps and bandanas ii. Females A. No hip-huggers, shorts, cut-off shorts, jogging shorts or biking shorts B. No tights, leggings or skinny jeans C. No mini-skirts D. Dresses and skirts no more than 3 inches above the knee E. Slits on skirts and dresses will not extend above the knee when seated F. No tank tops, sleeveless tops or bare midriffs G. Underwear and bra must be worn H. Shoes must be worn. Thongs, flip-flops and slides are not allowed I. No blue or red shoelaces J. No excessive jewelry except a wedding ring, religious medallion or a medical alert bracelet K. No dangling earrings – stud type only L. No hats, caps and bandanas 7. Tour Guidelines A. Tour sponsors/chaperones are responsible for maintaining constant and accurate accountability of their tour participants. Should a tour participant become separated from the group, notify the Tour Director immediately. B. Tour participants are required to conduct themselves in a professional manner. Tour participants do not engage in communications with prisoners, accept anything from, or give anything to a prisoner except as may be authorized by the Tour Director. C. The Tour Director will discuss areas which tour participants will be permitted to observe. Due to the nature and responsibilities of the facility, certain access and conduct restrictions are necessary. While every effort will be made to ensure an educational and informative tour, circumstances may arise which require itinerary modification. 8. Tour Waiver of Liability A. Sponsors and/or chaperones will ensure that each tour participant will comply with policy, procedure, other regulations and guidelines issued by the MDOC as may be applicable to their activities and presence on institutional grounds during the tour. B. Each tour participant must provide a signed Waiver of Liability before touring the facility. C. The Waiver of Liability certifies that the sponsors, employees, chaperones and each participant of a scheduled tour to a facility of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) relieves and frees from any and all responsibility, any act of violence or misconduct on the part of any person under the employ, care or custody of the MDOC which may occur during the time that tour participants are on MDOC institutional grounds. D. MDOC employees and persons under the care and custody of the MDOC will comply with agency policy in the conducting of tours.