6/23/2022 Update
In accordance with public health order mandates, county COVID-19 community levels of medium or high will require all inmates, staff, visitors and volunteers of facilities within that county to wear a medical grade mask (surgical, KN95 or N95 respirator) while at the facility. If you are planning to visit a facility, please check the county the facility is in to determine if a mask may be required. You can find your county's level by going to https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-
3/23/2022 Update
Effective immediately, masks are no longer required to be worn by staff, volunteers, visitors, or incarcerated individuals inside our correctional facilities. Masks will still be available upon request for any staff, volunteer, visitor, or incarcerated individual who elects to wear them. All other visiting protocols remain as outlined below.
3/1/2022 Update
As the incidence of COVID 19 decreases across the state, we are anxious to resume the programming and visitation privileges for the offender population within the facilities. We continue to recommend being fully vaccinated and up to date with the booster to best protect yourself from COVID 19. Programming, to include classes and volunteer services, has resumed at 100% capacity beginning Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
In-person visiting will resume at 75% capacity beginning the week of March 14, 2022.
These restrictions will be re-evaluated weekly and will be adjusted according to a number of variables based on the incidence of COVID-19 within the community and in compliance with the CDC and CDPHE.
In-person visiting is scheduled to resume starting the week of March 14, 2022. Visiting guidelines/requirements will be as follows:
● Visiting rooms can operate at up to 75% capacity.
● Inmates will be screened prior to visit. Inmates with symptoms or who refuse screening will have their visit(s) that day canceled.
● Vaccination is no longer required for visitation; neither inmates nor visitors are required to be vaccinated to participate in in-person visiting.
● No inmates on isolation or quarantine status may have visits.
● Special Visits can be scheduled.
● Facilities can allow a maximum number of visitors per inmate, following their facility’s IA and space allowances.
● All visitors over the age of 2 will be required to wear a surgical mask, provided by the facility. Children under the age of 2 are not required to wear a mask. The mask will be appropriately worn (over the nose and mouth) for the entirety of the visit, and only be lowered when drinking or eating.
● Visitors will complete health screening forms and temperature checks prior to entry. If a visitor checks “yes” on any of the screening questions or if the visitor is running a fever, the visit will be canceled. Legal guardians will complete screening forms for minor children who are unable to complete the form on their own.
● If visiting staff observe any visitor or inmate appearing to display symptoms of illness, they will cancel/end the visit.
● Visitors and inmates may not share food or drink items during visits.
● Physical contact between visitors and inmates is limited to a short embrace (hug only, no kiss) at the beginning and end of each visit.
● Staff will continue to ensure appropriate and frequent cleaning and disinfection of the visiting area(s) are completed and documented.
● Hand sanitizing stations will be available at the entry/exit points and throughout visiting area(s).
● East Canon Complex facilities may have multiple facilities having visits on the same day. Visiting transport buses may run at 75% capacity.
Video visitation remains available at all correctional facilities for those individuals who are unable to travel to visit or prefer to visit by video.
We appreciate your continued patience and understanding as we continue to navigate these uniquely challenging times.
1/12/2022 Update
Currently the majority of all CDOC facilities are experiencing numerous COVID-19 positive cases amongst both staff and incarcerated individuals. The health and safety of our staff and inmates is our highest priority, and we are working diligently with public health and medical professionals to ensure our operational decisions are based in the most current science available.
Given the high number of cases across the state, the CDOC has made the difficult decision to extend the suspension of in-person visitation at all DOC facilities until 2/1/2022. The Department will re-evaluate that decision as it gets closer to 2/1 and will provide updates at that time. This was a difficult decision but it is currently the best option to try and prevent the unnecessary introduction of the virus into facilities. Video visitation, phone calls and mail will still be available.
Facilities are still allowing for in-person legal visits.
Given that CDOC has several facilities with outbreaks and other facilities with numerous staff out due to the virus, facilities will also modify operations to reduce or stop programming until 2/1/2022. The levels of modification to programming will vary from facility to facility.
These are difficult decisions as we all wish we could be back to normal, but the department is focused on trying to protect health and safety to the best of our ability. We will continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available. Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this challenging time.
UPDATE
The Department of Corrections has increased visitation capacity for in-person visitation at all facilities. The rules regarding in-person visitation will vary depending on the facility.
Our first priority is to protect the health and safety of our staff and inmates. Given the increased danger from the Delta variant we have made the decision that all CDOC employees that interface with the public, interact with inmates or parolees, or who enter into facilities as part of their job assignment will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
CDOC will also require other state employees, contract employees, visitors, volunteers and vendors who enter a prison facility to be vaccinated against COVID-19 (with some accommodations made for extenuating circumstances).
Beginning on October 7, 2021 any visitor will be required to bring a copy of their vaccine card or their printed CIIS verification to the facility to demonstrate that they have had at least the first dose of the vaccine (or the one dose of the Johnson and Johnson). By October 31, 2021 all visitors will need to be fully vaccinated and bring their vaccine card with them when visiting.
Vaccinated visitors will still be required to wear a mask during visitation.
We know this has been a difficult time, and we appreciate your cooperation in keeping our facilities safe.
You can find the criteria for facility visitation HERE
If you need ADA Accommodations for visitation please review the information HERE
If you have a specific visitation question regarding a facility, please find that facility’s webpage under the “Facilities” section and look for their visitation point of contact.
Thank you for your patience during this process.