Section 483.07 - Department Standards for Institution Rules and Procedures(1) Each institution shall provide, at a minimum, three visiting periods per week, with at least one period on a weekday evening, and at least one period on the weekend. At least one visiting period shall be provided on any identified holiday. A visiting period is considered a three to four hour block of time.(2) A maximum of two adults shall be permitted to visit an inmate at the same time during any visiting period. Minimum and Pre-release facilities 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 room (e.g., non-contact visiting area).(3) Visitors and inmates 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 shall 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 may be allowed to sit on the accompanying parent/guardian's lap;
(h) When sitting, hands shall be in plain sight at all times;(i) Inmates and visitors shall not be allowed to put their arms around each other when sitting or standing. The only exception shall be once at the inception of the visit (greeting) and once at the conclusion of the visit during departure;(j) Inmates and visitors shall follow the orders of the officers assigned to the visiting room and its related areas;(k) No article(s), with the exception of food and beverage items as described in 103 CMR 483.07(3)(n), shall be passed between visitors and inmates; (l) Inmates and visitors are responsible for cleaning up and throwing away trash, left over vending machine items, or wrappers or purchased items during the visit;(m) No cross visiting (visiting an inmate other than the specifically approved inmate) is permitted between inmates and visitors;(n) If available, visitors may purchase a beverage or food item and deliver it to the inmate they are visiting. The visitor and inmate shall not be permitted to share any beverage or food item at any time;(o) At no time shall visitors and/or inmates be allowed to change seats, unless directed to or given permission by a visiting room staff member;(p) Interactions between an inmate and the visitor of another inmate or between visitors are not allowed;(q) Possession or use of tobacco or alcohol products is prohibited;(r) 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;(s) 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 suspension of visiting privileges upon review by the Superintendent.(4) 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 his or her tour of duty at that post. All details concerning the reason(s) for termination of the visit shall be noted.(5) All institution visiting rules shall be enforced.(6) Each Superintendent shall post transportation schedules for all public transportation in a conspicuous location at the entrance or lobby of the institution.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1361, eff. 3/23/2018.