New York Prisoners - Visiting a New York Prisoner

At maximum security facilities, visiting is allowed every day of the year and at hours intended to encourage maximum visitation.

At medium and minimum security facilities, visiting is allowed on weekends and holidays only.

At work release facilities, only inmates held in restriction status shall be allowed visitors.

Except in cases of emergency, and except for instances of termination, suspension or revocation under provisions of 7NYCRR Chapter V, Subchapter A (as described in 'Visiting Room Protocol and Rules' of this directive, the number, length and frequency of visits by each visitor will be limited only as necessary to accommodate all visitors who arrive during scheduled visiting times.

The designated area or areas for visiting shall be arranged to provide a smuch space as practical, while maintaining appropriate security, along with adequate heat, light and ventilation, convenient seating arrangements for both visitors and inmates, lavatory facilities, and any other appropriate accommodations.

In facilities which have more than one visiting area, visiting room assignments may be made based upon the inmate's program assignment, institutional adjustment, or security risk level. However, in such instances, no inmate shall be deprived of visiting privileges available to inmates in general population except as provided in 7 NYCRR Section 200.5 and 7 NYCRR Chapter V, Subchapter A (as described in 'Visiting Room Protocol and Rules').

The Superintendent will designate an area for confidential meetings which will insure the privacy of conversations during professional visits of attorneys or their duly authorized representatives or visiting clergy (see Directive #4202, "Religious Programs and Practices" and Directive #4404, "Inmate Legal Visits").

Superintendents may modify any provisions of this directive to adjust to local conditions only with the prior approval of the Commissioner.

However, a Superintendent may deny, limit, suspend, or revoke visitation privileges of any inmate or visitor if the Superintendent has reasonable cause to believe that such action is necessary to maintain the safety, security, and good order of the facility.

no inmate is to be visited against his will by any person including attorneys or their duly authorized representatives of the news media.

All visitors, inmates, and visiting areas will be searched prior to visiting and carefully observed to guard against importation of contraband, to deter misbehavior, and to prevent escapes.

A record of prospective visitors for each inmate, and a record of each visit will be maintained. Unrecorded persons will not be admitted to a facility except as provided for in section 'First-Time Visitors' below.
Names provided by an inmate at reception will form the basis for that inmate's Visitor Record. This record will be maintained and updated by each facility having custody of the inmate.
The facility Visitor Record will be updated as visitors register and are processed to visit inmates. This record will be kept and maintained by security staff in the area where visitors are processed.
To add a person to the Visitor Record, the inmate must send a memo containing the prospective visitor's name, address and relationship data to the Visitor Record Desk.
A visitor's name shall be removed from an Inmate's Visitor Record upon written request of that inmate or the visitor.

The Watch Commander will allow initial visits for persons not on an inmate's approved visitor record subject to the following conditions:

First-time visitors will be allowed to visit if proper identification is presented and if the inmate to be visited agrees to the visit.
First-time visitors will be required to sign a statement indicating that they have been advised of and agree to abide by the rules and regulations regarding visiting. This signed statement will be attached to the inmate's visiting record, and a copy will be sent to the inmate