Visitation Rules and Procedures

Inmates and their visitors are accountable to conduct themselves in such a manner as to not bring suspicion nor discredit upon themselves or be disruptive or offend the sensibilities of other visitors. Visitors and inmates are required to obey all staff instructions and to comply with all Administrative Regulations. Please reference for detailed information in Administrative Regulation 300-01 Offender Visiting Program, which is available for review on our department policies page.  Each visitor is responsible to know and abide by the rules outlined in the policy. Failure to do so may result in termination of visits and/or suspension of visiting privileges.

Contact
A short embrace and brief closed mouth kiss may be permitted at the beginning and at the end of each visit. During visits, inmates may hold hands with their visitors. Visiting conditions will permit informal communication and reasonable levels of physical contact between inmate and visitors. In instances of substantiated security risks, the Administrative Head may establish non-contact visiting areas. Body contacts between inmates and visitors other than these will not be permitted.

Children and Minors
It is the responsibility of visitors to supervise and maintain control over their minor children. Any physical discipline of such minor children deemed necessary cannot occur on correctional facility property. If a minor becomes disruptive during a visit and is not controlled by verbal instruction from the supervising visitor, the visit will be terminated. Breast-feeding of infants is only allowed in the designated area noted in the facility Operational Memorandum.

Any approved visitor over the age of 18 is required to present valid picture identification prior to their admission for visiting.

Clothing Standards

• Visitors are not to wear any garment which exposes cleavage, back, stomach, midriff, and/or underarm. 
• The only jewelry or adornment visitors will be permitted to wear into the visiting area is a wedding ring set, one religious necklace pendant, and medical alert badges. Medicine bags are not allowed.  Dermal jewelry implants that cannot be removed by the visitor will be allowed.
• No controversial/objectionable gang, obscene, drug and alcohol designs, messages or profanity on clothing.
• Hair extensions and/or wigs will be permitted but are subject to search in a respectful and appropriate manner. Hair  extensions which are attached to the hair with a clip or comb will not be allowed. Only hair accessories which are soft in  nature will be permitted to be worn inside the visiting area.
• Top or bottom clothing which is solid green, solid orange, solid white, camouflage, or tactical in nature, or resembles offender attire or presents adornments which could be used as a weapon, are not permitted. 
• No cargo pants.
• Leggings and jeggings may only be worn under outer garments that must be no shorter than the knee while standing.  Shoes are required. Infants are not required to wear shoes until such time as they can walk.  Infants and toddlers who are able to walk must wear shoes at all times during the visit. Minors are allowed to wear shoes that display lights. 
• Appropriate undergarments are required, and will not be visible.
• Clothing which is sheer or transparent will not be permitted.
• Clothing that contains holes and/or rips will not be permitted. 
• Outer garments worn on the bottom half of the body must be no shorter than the knee while standing.
• Any clothing worn on the top half of the body must have sleeves and not expose the cleavage line at any time while standing, sitting and/or bending down.
• Trousers will be worn in the manner intended (no sagging).
• Wrap-around clothing will not be allowed.
• Visitors are not to wear hats into the visiting area, except for religious hats or headgear or by approval of a disability accommodation. Gloves, scarves, or outer garments, such as topcoats, raincoats, jackets, and similar inclement weather attire will not be permitted within the visiting area. No hooded garments will be allowed in the visiting area.
• If a pull over, zipper, or button up sweater is worn, it shall be worn at all times inside the visiting area.  A garment is required to be worn underneath the sweater within the guidelines of this policy.

In facilities where restrooms are provided within the visiting area, the use of restrooms will be established by the facility Administrative Head and posted for visitor's information. Times will be posted as well as reflected in the facility Operational Memorandum.

Other than items from available vending machines, visitors shall not exchange any object nor article with an inmate. Only those items approved by facility Operational Memoranda will be allowed into the visiting area.

The DOC will assume no responsibility for items lost, stolen or left in or around the visiting area or on DOC grounds. If an inmate is found to be in possession of or use of contraband, either during or following a visit, it will be assumed that the contraband was introduced by the visitor(s) and the contraband will become reasonable suspicion for revocation or suspension of visiting privileges for that visitor(s).

Sanctions that will be Imposed for Violations

Revocation/Termination of visits
Ninety (90) days of non-contact visits
Ninety (90) days of suspended visits
any combination of non-contact and suspended visits

For subsequent visiting violations an automatic one (1) year visiting suspension will be imposed.

Major visiting violations that jeopardize the security of the facility may result in permanent suspension of visiting privileges.

Any visitor whose visiting privileges have been revoked or suspended for one (1) year or permanently may request, in writing, periodic reconsideration, at six (6) month intervals. Requests are to be sent to the Administrative Head who rendered the decision.

Suspension and/or revocation from visiting privileges from one facility shall automatically include all other DOC facilities.

Possession and/or use of illegal drugs constitutes a serious threat to the security of all correctional facilities or offices, requiring that all efforts be employed to preclude entry and/or use of illegal drugs within a correctional facility or DOC office. Accordingly, upon verified possession or use of illegal drugs or participation in drug-related activities, to include refusals of drug screening procedures, forfeiture of the inmate's social visiting privileges shall, at a minimum, be imposed as follows:

First conviction: Six (6) months suspension followed by three (3) months non-contact visiting, if available.
Second conviction: Twelve (12) months suspension followed by six (6) months of non-contact visiting.
Third conviction: Permanent suspension.

Forfeiture of social visiting privileges under these conditions will be ordered by the Administrative Head and will include the removal from visiting lists of all social visitors.

Verified possession will be by accepted testing procedures such as Narkit field testing and/or urinalysis screening.

Visitors are to be required to present a valid picture identification prior to their admission for visiting. Acceptable identification would include:

Driver's License with picture
State identification card with picture
Passport
Military identification

Official or picture identification card need not be required for visitors under age 18 unless the visitor is an emancipated minor.

The address listed on the photo ID on file must match the address on the visiting application.

At facilities housing medium or higher custody inmates, all visitors will be required to have the back of their right hand stamped with an ultra-violet marker before entry into the facility, by the staff person authorizing entry. The marker stamped on the back of the right hand will be read by a "black light" to establish positive identification prior to authorizing the visitor's departure from the facility. Visiting rules prohibit the resumption of the visit after leaving the facility.

All visitors are required to register upon entry into the facility by completing AR Form 300-01B, Consent to Search Authorization which specifies the circumstances under which visitors may be searched. Visitors shall complete this form each time they enter a facility or office.

It shall be the responsibility of each visitor to notify DOC of any personal changes, verbally at the visiting center, or by completing AR Form 300-01C, Visiting Update, as necessary at each subsequent visit.

Information requested and/or submission of false information shall result in denial/revocation of visits.

All persons coming onto the grounds of a DOC facility, their vehicles, and articles of property in their possession are subject to inspection/search consistent with the security needs of the facility. In the event a visitor refuses to submit to any entrance or visiting procedure, that person will be denied visits and shall be required to leave DOC facility/property immediately.

All items of contraband found on a visitor during a search will be immediately seized.

No visitor shall be strip searched. If reasonable suspicion exists that the visitor is concealing contraband, local law enforcement officers or the IG Investigators are to be summoned.

Visitor personal items authorized by facility Operational Memoranda to enter the facility must be carefully inspected for contraband.

Except at minimum security facilities, as described by or when restricted by facility Implementation/Adjustment forms, no food may be brought into a visiting area with the exception of baby food. Baby food containers entering the visiting area must be factory sealed. No open food containers or food without containers will be permitted. Two (2) baby bottles containing food, water, milk or juice may be taken into the visiting area for each baby. Diaper bags may be taken into the visiting area with two (2) clean diapers, two (2) baby toys which can be easily checked for contraband, and one (1) change of clothes. The diaper bag must be left under staff supervision.

Visiting area vending machines are for use by visitors to obtain snack food items and beverages while visiting. Staff supervising visits are not responsible for the vending machines. Problems encountered in using the machines must be handled directly with the vendor. Complaint and refund applications will be provided by the visiting staff. Visitors will be allowed to retain excess food items or drink and take these items with them when the visit is concluded.

Visitors' vehicles are subject to inspection or search while on State property, as outlined in the Colorado Revised Statutes [CRS 17-19-101].

If staff interacting with visitors determine that reasonable suspicion exists regarding the possible introduction and/or possession of contraband, or has an outstanding warrant, the visitor:

• Shall be denied entrance;
• May be detained for local law enforcement of jurisdiction or for IG Investigators. Physical force may not be used to detain a visitor unless there is an imminent threat to the life or safety of another person or to the security of the facility
• May be referred to the District Attorney's Office for criminal prosecution
• Shall be suspended or revoked from future visits.
• Visitors shall not possess nor carry onto the grounds of a DOC facility any explosive devices, firearms, ammunition, alcoholic beverages, illicit narcotics, objects or materials of any kind which are readily adaptable for use to compromise the safety or security of the facility.

Visitors shall not bring into the visiting area books of any kind, pagers, portable telephones, credit cards, cameras or film of any kind, briefcases, cosmetics, prescription drugs other than the amount needed for the duration of the visit and as noted on the prescription, or other items which require shakedown or search procedures thus causing delay in facilitating visits.

No animals (except service animals) are allowed on state grounds.

Inmate social visiting is a privilege.

The only jewelry or adornment inmates will be permitted to wear into the visiting area is a wedding ring, one (1) religious medallion and medical alert badges.

Searches
At a minimum, electronic searches using walk through metal detectors or hand held metal detectors will be used in processing visitors.

Pat searches will be conducted on as many visitors as time permits upon visitor entry. Pat searches will be conducted by staff members of the same gender.

Bandages, dressings, casts, etc., will be searched to the extent possible. Staff conducting the search will exercise care to be sure that they do not aggravate any injury, contaminate any wound or damage the coverings. Staff will use their discretion as to whether or not an adequate search of such items is possible. In questionable cases, a staff medical practitioner may be consulted.

Inmate visiting policy recognizes inmate social visiting as a privilege to be approved, denied, suspended, or revoked by the administrative head of the facility to which the inmate is assigned.

Each administrative head may establish reasonable operational rules based upon individual facility differences. Such rules are to be fashioned toward creating a relaxed and normal environment; visiting facilities are to be conducive to informal communications. Custodial supervision and control are to be commensurate with the security level of the facility but shall be as unobtrusive as practical with minimum intrusion into the visit.

Each facility shall regulate the time schedule, frequency of visits, and the number of persons permitted, per visit, according to its security needs and space limitations. All limitations must be applied uniformly to all inmates of the same security level at each facility.

Within the facility’s implementation/adjustments governing inmate visiting, the administrative head will establish criteria for determining whether the visit is to be a contact or a non-contact visit. Other special visiting restrictions may be imposed in consideration of facility scheduling, space availability, security, and/or DOC employee constraints.

When visiting areas are full and overcrowding exists, the visiting DOC employees may limit visits based on the following criteria:

Volunteer basis

• First In First Out (FIFO); the first persons checking in and have visited a minimum of two (2) hours may be asked to leave in order to allow other visitors to visit
• Frequency of visiting

Exceptions: special visits, visitors who have traveled distances greater than 200 miles one way.

All visits may be terminated any time a facility emergency exists; visitors must leave the facility/grounds promptly.

Visitors will be excluded from the visiting list with authorization from the Administrative Head if they:

Are victim of the sex inmate they are attempting to visit, except under circumstances approved in advance and in writing, by the sex inmate treatment unit and the administrative head.
Are under the age of 18 visiting an inmate who has been convicted at any time of a sexual offense unless approved in advance and in writing, by the sex inmate treatment unit and the administrative head.

Are victims of the inmate or who are children under the age of 18 years of age, if such visits would be contrary to the rehabilitation of the inmate. This is documented by mental health DOC employees or contract workers who will evaluate the inmate and make recommendations regarding visits that may be detrimental to the inmate’s rehabilitation.

If a visit is denied or terminated for cause, the visitor shall be precluded from further or future visiting until subsequent determinations are made by the Administrative Head.

Reasons for a visit being denied, terminated for cause, suspended or revoked, or for any other reasonable cause include, but are not limited to:

• Inmate refuses the visit
• The visitor and/or Inmate appear to be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
• The visitor and/or Inmate refuses to submit to required entry procedures, including failure to meet dress requirements, produce a valid I.D., or refusal of searches
• The visitor and/or Inmate are in possession of contraband, or the visitor is introducing any contraband, including weapons, explosives, escape devices, illicit narcotics/drugs, paraphernalia or intoxicants
• A violation of the Administrative Regulation, staff directives and/or other relevant rules occurs, or repetitive minor violations occur requiring cautions and/or warnings by
• Either the Inmate or visitor creates a disturbance, including failure to control minor children, during the visit
• The Inmate and/or visitor becomes involved in body contacts (other than hand holding or holding a young child) or engages in sexual conduct;
• The visitor engages in activity which appears intent upon aiding in the escape or attempt to escape from custody of any Inmate
• The Inmate or visitor engages in any behavior, action, circumstance which is deemed by the staff assigned to supervise visits as to risk the safety and/or good order of the facility;
• Any attempt to exchange with or give an Inmate any item other than that acquired through available vending machines during the visit
• The Inmate or visitor fails to promptly obey staff instruction;
• The Inmate or visitor directs verbally abusive language about or to staff
• The Inmate or visitor attempts to damage or damages State property;
• The visitor attempts to smuggle any item into or out of the facility. Such behavior need not have occurred in connection with a visit or in a visiting area, e.g., a visitor who leaves contraband in another area on, adjacent to, being used by, or associated with facility property or operations, for the Inmate to pick up
• A visitor has incurred a pending felony charge or has been released from supervision for a felony within the past three (3) years.
• Failure to visit for a one (1) year period.

A visitor who has been denied, terminated, suspended or revoked from visiting shall be advised of the reasons for such action without revealing any confidential information and the visitor may provide, in writing, any information deemed pertinent for the Administrative Head's consideration during the review process.