Bill > S02698

This bill establishes an inmate visitation program in state and local correctional facilities, which provides inmates with opportunities for personal contact with relatives, friends, clergy, volunteers, and other persons. The goal is to promote better institutional adjustment and better community adjustment upon release. The program must include visiting hours that accommodate visitors travelling within the state, visits of sufficient duration to maintain relationship bonds, and a published overcrowding policy with consideration for visitor travel distance. Video visitation can supplement, but not replace, in-person visitation, and no inmate will be visited against their will.