MORROW COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL CORRECTION DIVISION
SECTION: Communication, Mail, and Visitation 15-02	TITLE: Inmate Visitation
REFERENCE: Ohio Jail Standards 5120:1-8-07	EFF. DATE: January 1, 1996 REV. DATE: July 7, 1998 October 15, 1998 September 9, 1999 December 22, 2008 09/08/2015, 05/05/2017

I. POLICY:

Inmate visitation (family members, friends and professionals) provides a means by which the inmate can maintain contact with family and friends and receive professional consultation to cope with personal and legal problems.

Visits shall be restricted only if the jail administrator or designee determines that a visit is a threat to safety, security or best interests of the jail. The jail administrator or designee shall document restrictions in writing.

Visits between inmates and members of the public shall be monitored And may be recorded by any means for safety and security reasons.

Visitors shall be required to provide valid identification.

II. PROCEDURE:

A. Non-Contact Visits/Non-Professional

1. All visitation shall be done by video visitation. The visit must be scheduled at least 12 hours in advance. All visits will be terminated 10 mins after the visit was scheduled if the visitor fails to log in online.

2. Non-contact visits will be held in the Visitation Area located in the public lobby as well as online via internet. An inmate entrance is located within the security perimeter. The area is located just inside the lobby. This area can be observed from the booking office without listening to conversations yet maintaining security and is secure that physically separates the inmate and visitor with capability for two-way conversation and non-obscured and/or video visitation.

3. Visitation Requirements:

1. Visitors are required to be 18 years of age, or if under 18, to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A legal spouse that is under 18 years of age may visit if they show legal proof of marriage. Visitors shall register upon entry into the jail lobby. The registry shall include the date, visitor name, inmate visited and length of the visit.

b. Persons with criminal records shall not be excluded from visiting.

c. Persons shown, by substantial evidence, to constitute a threat to the inmate or security of the jail will be excluded from visitation privileges.

d. Intoxicated (drugs or alcohol) visitors will not be allowed to visit an inmate.

e. Persons on Probation/Parole will not be allowed to visit without written permission from their Probation/Parole

Officer.

f. Parents are responsible for the conduct and safety of their children. Disruptive behavior by children is grounds for termination of the visit.

g. Visitors may be subject to a search upon entering or leaving the facility.

h. Loud, disruptive, or inappropriate behavior is grounds for termination of the visit.

i. Corrections staff has the authority to seat visitors or inmates at their discretion..

j. Visitors are expected to wear appropriate attire. The Visitation Officer has the right to deny visitation for  inappropriate attire.

1. No see-through clothing

2. No provocative shorts (such as short-shorts, Speedo’s etc.)

3. No clothing with gang/club insignia

4. No clothing with obscene gestures and/or language

5. No tank tops, tube tops, or muscle shirts

6. No bare midriffs

7. Shoes must be worn

8. Shirts must be worn

9. Appropriate undergarments must be worn (bra, slip underwear)

10. Skirts and dresses must be at the middle of the knee

k. Personnel supervising visits may give a verbal warning to inmates or visitors who fail to comply with the Jails’ visitation rules. If a rule is broken for a second time, the visit will be terminated and the visitor(s) will be asked to  leave. Some violations will not require a warning.

3. Number of visitors: 1 adult and 2 children or 2 adults and 1

Child or 3 adults.

Visitation times / scheduling procedures:

The jail shall provide general visitation hours that provide inmates the opportunity for thirty minutes of visitation per  week. If the jail utilizes video visitation, it will provide weekly general visitation hours that are supported by the visitation system utilized, no less than twenty minutes per per visit. A schedule of visiting hours shell be posted in inmate and visitor areas or the jail website.

Inmates will be permitted 2 hour a week in 30 minute blocks, unless circumstances dictate a temporary suspension of visitation. Visitation will be allowed 7 days a week and times: 8am – 11am, 1pm – 2pm, 6pm – 8pm

The visiting times and rules will be posted in the public lobby Area, in the Inmate Rules and Regulations and on our website.

A. visitor must make an appointment by scheduling online or in the lobby on the visitation kiosk.

B. For video visitation in the lobby, each visitor will be

Positively identified at the inmate information window and then be directed to the visitation kiosk.

C. No cell phones are permitted during visits.

D. Proper identification:

1. Driver’s License

2. Ohio I.D. Card

3. Military I.D.

4. Valid verifiable photo identification card

5. Valid Passport

b. If questions arise over what constitutes acceptable identification, the Shift Supervisor/O.I.C. shall be contacted and resolve all issues.

5. Visitor Registration / Log Book:

a. All visitors are required to register online.

b. A computerized log will be maintained. The computerized log will note the name of the inmate, visitor’s name, relationship to the inmate, the time the visit is scheduled and the time the visit ends. The information in the computerized log will be entered into the inmate’s computer record.

6. Viewing of visitation:

The jail administrator or designee will monitor all scheduled visits. Any misconduct will result in the visitor losing the privilege of visiting any inmate in the facility.

7. Search of Visitors:

a. A sign shall be posted in the lobby warning the general public that any person who attempts to bring contraband, weapons or otherwise violate the security of the jail shall be subject to a search and prosecution.

b. A pat search may be conducted under the conditions cited in “7.a” above (with the Shift Supervisor/O.I.C. approval). Males will search males and females will search females. The visit will be denied if contraband or weapons are found on the visitor.

The Shift Supervisor/OIC shall be summoned and the visitor turned over to them for the filing of criminal charges.

c. Inmates shall be informed in writing that the visit was

3. denied including the rationale for denial.

B. Special Visits and or Contact Visits:

3. 1. Eligibility for Special Visit and or contact visits: Any special
4. visit must be approved by the Sheriff or Jail Administrator. All
5. visits, whether approved or denied, will be documented by
6. utilizing the Special Visit Request form. This form will be
7. completed by the Shift Supervisor/OIC and forwarded to the
8. Jail Administrator for approval or denial. This document will
9. be on file in the inmate file and visitation log. Visitors
10. shall give at least twenty-four (24) hours’ notice of when they
11. would like the special visit. Such visits will be conducted in the visitation area. Special visits may be granted when:

a. An event of personal significance has occurred for the inmate (i.e., death of spouse, sibling or parent), and the visit may help to reduce the ill effects of the event on the inmate.

b. Other such circumstances which have prevented a visit from taking place at the regular scheduled time. No personal property or money will be taken or handed out during any visiting periods.

C. ICE detainees/Inmates may make requests for contact visits using the Special Visit Request form. These contact visits must be approved by both the Sheriff or Jail Administrator and the ICE Field Office. Due to the approval being needed by ICE these requests must be made three (3) business days in advance of the requested visit.

SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS

Sexual assault as defined by the Morrow County Correctional Facility as “any contact between the sex organ of one person and the sex organ, mouth or anus of another person, or any intrusion of any part of the body of one person, or of any object in to the sex organ, mouth or anus of another person, by the use of force or threat of force.”  The offenders uses sex as a weapon to assault the body, the mind, psyche and spirit. Sexual assault affects everyone, either directly or through the experiences of those we care about.  It is not only a women’s issue as it can affect persons of any gender, race, age, ethnic group, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation or disability.  The statistics are proof of this problem: According to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), in 2002 there were 247,730 victims of rape (this number does not include victims 12 years of age or younger), seven out of every eight rape victims were female and one in every eight rape victims were male.  A 1998 study indicates that about 2.78 million American men have experience an attempted or completed rape.  One out of every six American women have experienced an attempted or completed rape.

Rape avoidance

The only way rape can be prevented is when a potential rapist chooses not to rape.  However, you may avoid an attack by keeping the following safety guidelines in mind:  Be aware of situations that make you feel uncomfortable.  Trust your instincts.  If it feels wrong, leave.  Don’t let your manners get in the way of keeping yourself safe.  Don’t be afraid to say no or stop it now.  Walk and stand with confidence.  Many rapists choose victims who look like they won’t fight back or are emotionally weak.  Avoid talking about sex and casual nudity.  These things may be considered a come on or make another inmate believe that you have an interest in a sexual relationship.  Do not accept commissary items or other gifts from other inmates.  Placing yourself in debt to another inmate can lead to the expectation of repaying the debt with sexual favors.  Avoid secluded areas.  Position yourself in plain view of staff members.  If you are being pressured for sex, report it to a supervisor immediately.

What to do if you are sexually assaulted:

If the attack has just happened, get to a safe place.  Report the attack to a staff member immediately.  The longer you wait to report the attack, the more difficult it is to obtain the evidence necessary for a criminal and/or administrative investigation.  Request immediate medical attention.  You may have serious injuries that you are not aware of, and any sexual contact can expose you to sexually transmitted diseases.  Do not shower, brush your teeth, use the restroom or change your clothes.  You may destroy important evidence.  Seek the support of a trusted friend, family member or staff member, such as the chaplain or the victim services coordinator.  The days ahead can be traumatic and it helps to have people who care about you supporting you.  Seek professional help.  Mental Health staff is available for crisis care every day to listen and offer support.

Rape and sexual assault happens to females and males of all ages, from infancy to the senior years.  98% of males who have raped boys reported they are heterosexual.  Most males who assault men or women are married or report having girlfriends.  Sexual assault has nothing to do with the victim’s present or future sexual orientation.  Victims may be either heterosexual or homosexual.  A survivor is not at fault for the rape, even if he/she was in a secluded area, or had previous consensual sex with the attacker.  The fact a male victim of sexual assault ejaculated or became sexually aroused does not mean they were not raped or that they gave consent.  These are normal, involuntary physiological reactions.  It is common for survivors of sexual assault to have feelings of embarrassment, anger, guilt, panic, depression, and fear, even several months or years after the attack.  Other common reactions include loss of appetite, nausea or stomach aches, headaches, loss of memory and/or trouble concentrating and changes in sleep patterns.

Facts for the inmate that sexually assaults other inmates:

You will be issued a conduct report.  If found guilty, sanctions will be harsh.  In addition, your supervision level will be reviewed and likely increased, which could mean a transfer to a higher security prison or unit with significantly less freedom of movement and limited privileges.  If you have family, how will this affect them and/or how will it affect their ability to visit you?  All cases of sexual assault are referred for criminal investigation.  You may be prosecuted and, if found guilty of a felony, any additional prison time will be added to your current sentence, per the Ohio Revised Code.  Consider that, regardless of how you choose to characterize it, sex with a member of the same sex is a homosexual act.  And these acts significantly increase your risk of HIV infection, along with exposing you to other sexually transmitted diseases.  If you have trouble controlling your actions, seek help from mental health staff and/or consider participating in programs designed to control anger or reduce stress.  To reduce immediate feelings of anger or aggression, try talking to or writing a friend, meditate or do breathing exercises to relax, work on a hobby, or engage in some type of exercise.