Lesson 7 Visitation PDF

Lesson 7 Visitation Lesson Goal You will be able to supervise inmate visitation while maintaining officer, visitor, and inmate safety and facility security. Think About This A visitor comes to the facility to meet with one of the inmates. She is visibly sweating, and her voice sounds nervous...

Lesson 7 Visitation Lesson Goal You will be able to supervise inmate visitation while maintaining officer, visitor, and inmate safety and facility security. Think About This A visitor comes to the facility to meet with one of the inmates. She is visibly sweating, and her voice sounds nervous as she asks to sign in. Her eyes dart back and forth. Is this behavior a problem for the facility? Should she be allowed to continue her visit? Types of Inmate Visits Visitation is a privilege and not a right for inmates and visitors (Rule 33-601.714, F.A.C.). Visitors and inmates can lose this privilege because of inappropriate conduct, rule violations, or by introducing contraband. Visitors may not understand the operation of a correctional facility. When subjecting visitors to security measures, speak clearly and courteously to make sure the visitor understands any directions you give. ✅ CO607.1. Know the difference between contact visits and non-contact visits All visits within a correctional facility can be classified as either contact or non-contact visits. Contact visits are visits in which both the visitor and the inmate are in the same room, without a physical barrier and can have limited physical contact. Non-contact visits are visits in which the inmate and visitor are physically separated by some type of barrier or communicate using electronic equip- ment, such as an audio and video communication system. An inmate may receive two types of visitors, social and professional. Social visitors may include friends and family. Some agencies require social visitors to be preregistered and screened for crimi- nal histories or active warrants. Agencies may also limit the number of social visitors an inmate may receive at one time or within a specified period of time. A professional visitor may include attorneys and staff employed by attorneys, investigators, bail bondsmen, parole and probation officers, law enforcement officers, social service agency staff, and clergy. Professional visitors are processed in a manner similar to social visitors. Training academies, schools, or self-help or religious groups visiting a correctional facility may be subject to the same search procedures. These are usually preapproved visits with staff escorts to a designated area or for a tour of the facility. Most visits occur at the correctional facility. However, occasionally inmates being treated at outside medical facilities could receive visitors. These visits are usually for inmates who are terminally ill, and are receiving social visitors at the discretion of the correctional agency. 178 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1 Facility Security and Visitor Identification and Authorization Visitation and entry requirements vary considerably from state correctional institutions to munic- ipal and county facilities. Confirmation of visitor identification is necessary for authorized entry into all facilities. ✅ CO607.2. Know the valid forms of identification and security equipment required for different types of visitors in a correctional facility All visitors must present valid photo identification. Valid forms of identification include government- issued photo identification, driver’s license or identification card, military identification, agency- issued identification, or passport. It a crime to present a false ID (s. 944.39, F.S.). The purpose of the person’s visit will determine the types of security equipment issued. You will need to determine if a visit is social or professional. Social visits are conducted on a specific sched- ule on designated days and times, whereas professional visits may be permitted at any time. Any special equipment or requirement for professional visitors varies from agency to agency. Some agencies may use closed-circuit television systems to monitor visitor movement, while others may issue personal body alarms that the visitor can activate in an emergency, alerting security personnel to potential threats and the need to respond immediately. Some agencies provide security escorts for visitors throughout the facility. When a visitor requests to meet with an inmate, verify the reason through either a published sched- ule or a shift supervisor’s authorization according to facility policies. Direct any question regarding the validity of the purpose for the visit to the supervisor. Once a visitor is approved, direct them to the visitor registration area. As part of the registration process, the visitor’s identification information is recorded, along with the date and time of entry and exit, the purpose of the visit, and the person visited. Visitors must sign in and should be told what items are permitted in the visitation area. Correctional agencies maintain visitor registration logs as a permanent record. These logs are for accountability purposes to prove that an inmate’s rights have not been violated (such as for attorney visits), and for emer- gency evacuation purposes. ✅ CO607.3. Search the visitation area for safety hazards and security issues before a visitation Conduct a systematic search of the visiting area before allowing inmates or visitors access. The area should be free of contraband and any potentially hazardous material. Inspect the equipment and furniture in the visitation area to make sure they are in working order. Search the restrooms in the same manner. Resolve any issues before allowing visitation to occur. ✅ CO607.4. Search visitors for contraband before admitting them to the visitation area Visitors are searched to control the introduction of contraband into the facility. This search is accomplished by various methods, such as metal detectors, pat-down searches, and visual inspec- tion. All objects a visitor brings are subject to search, whether visually, with an X-ray machine, or by other electronic means. Chapter 6 Supervising in a Correctional Facility / 179 Contraband is commonly found on visitors. Not all items that are considered to be contraband in a correctional facility are criminal in nature or pose an immediate threat to the safety or security of the facility. For example, most facilities consider personal keys as contraband, since keys are sharp implements and could be dangerous. The visitor will likely be told to return the keys to their car or place them in a secure location until they leave. If a visitor is found with contraband that poses an immediate threat to the facility’s safety or security, it will be confiscated and may be processed as evidence. Confiscate all contraband of a criminal nature, such as unauthorized cell phones, weap- ons, drugs, and intoxicants. The visitor is then subject to criminal prosecution, and visitation privi- leges may be terminated. All confiscated property will follow the chain of custody. Take necessary precautions to preserve evidence that would aid in an investigation. ✅ CO607.5. Direct visitors to the visitation area while maintaining facility safety and security standards After registering and searching, visitors are either verbally directed or escorted by an officer to the visitation area. In either instance, you must maintain the safety of the visitor and the security. Visits may occur in other designated areas as approved by the officer in charge. These may include a medical center or confinement area. In such instances, it may be necessary to escort the visitor to the alternate location. Remember attorney-client visits are privileged and must follow approved guidelines. Inmate Notification of Visit and Search ✅ CO607.6. Know the process for notifying an inmate of visitor arrival in the designated visitation area When visitors arrive at the facility and have been approved for visitation, the inmate is properly identified and informed of the visit. The inmate may either accept or decline the visit. Document if the inmate declines the visit. If the inmate declines the visit, the visitor registration area is advised, and the visitor is informed and asked to leave. ✅ CO607.7. Search an inmate before entering the visitation area For inmates accepting visitors, search the inmate for contraband before the visit. Visually inspect inmates to make sure they comply with the facility dress code. Depending on the facility layout and agency policies or procedures, verbally direct, monitor, or escort the inmate to the designated visitation area. Monitoring the Visit ✅ CO607.8. Monitor an inmate and visitor during a visitation Continually observe the conduct of the inmate and visitor for general rule violations such as exces- sive noise, vulgarity, sexual misconduct, introduction of contraband, and altercations. Take imme- diate action if you observe a rule violation. 180 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1 Even though all visitors are searched before entering the visitation area, contraband can still be introduced to the facility during visitation. For example, visitors may smuggle contraband through security checkpoints by “ballooning,” which is when contraband is placed in a sealed balloon and concealed in a body cavity or swallowed for later expulsion. You should pay particular attention to inmate and visitor activity after a visitor exits a restroom. While in the restroom, the visitor may retrieve the concealed contraband and later pass it to an inmate or hide it in the visitation area. If you observe a visitor with contraband, the visitor may be detained. If an issue arises that you cannot control or that is beyond your authority, call for backup. You may end the visit, permanently restrict the visitor from the facility, and discipline the inmate. Document any actions taken. During and after visitation, monitor inmates for emotional reactions that require referral to service providers, such as a mental health professional or chaplain. Exiting the Visitation Area ✅ CO607.9. Complete inmate visitation while maintaining facility safety and security standards At the end of visitation, ensure the inmates and visitors are separated. Explain to the visitors where and how to exit the visitation area. Verify that all visitors have left the visitation area, and confirm the identity of each visitor before they exit the facility. Update the visitation log to reflect that the visitor has departed. Be aware that contraband could be concealed in the visitation area to be recovered by an inmate at a later time. Systematically search the visitation area and restrooms upon conclusion of the visit. The area should be free of contraband or any potentially hazardous material. If you discover contraband, confiscate it, maintain chain of custody, and contact your supervisor. At the conclusion of the visit, the inmates should be segregated and monitored pending a thor- ough search. Inmates exiting a contact visit are searched to make sure no contraband enters the facility. Process any contraband found according to agency policies and procedures. When done with the search, direct or escort the inmate back to their assigned area and complete the search documentation. 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