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<chapter num="16" heading="Visits to Inmates" title_num="12" subtitle_num="02">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Definitions.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Terms Defined.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>“Certified religious visitor” means a person who is certified by the applicable religious authority to minister to members of that body, and who has been processed according to relevant institutional directives to visit individually with a specific inmate on a regular, occasional, or one-time-only basis.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>“Commissioner” means Commissioner of the Division of Correction or designee.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>“Contact visit” means a visit which permits limited physical contact between the inmate and the visitor.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>“Contraband” means an item as defined under Correctional Services Article, §8-801, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>“Frisk search” means running the hands across clothing worn to detect any hidden objects.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(6)">
        <text>“Special visit” means a visit authorized as an exception to normal visiting procedures.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(7)">
        <text>“Visitor” means a person entering the institution who:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Is on an inmate's visiting list; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Has obtained approval as a special visitor.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(8)">
        <text>“Warden” means warden or designee.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="General Procedures.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The Commissioner shall establish:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The number of visits which an inmate may receive;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The length of a visit; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>The number of visitors authorized during one visit.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The Commissioner shall consider the following standards when establishing the procedures in §A of this regulation:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Institutional schedule;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Visiting space;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Security considerations;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Staff requirements; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>An inmate's institutional status.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The Commissioner shall ensure that each warden establishes procedures governing visits to inmates in outside hospitals, institutional infirmaries, and mental health units which include provisions to ensure that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Each visit conforms with custody requirements; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Appropriate health or mental health personnel approval is obtained to confirm that the inmate is medically or mentally able to conduct the visit.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>The Commissioner shall ensure that each warden designates a visiting area which meets reasonable conditions for a visit to take place.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>An inmate may refuse to see a visitor.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Types of Visits.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Contact Visits. The Commissioner shall ensure that each warden allows a contact visit unless a contact visit is prohibited by Division regulations. The specific kind and amount of contact shall be based on the security level of the institution and the classification of an inmate.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Noncontact Visits. The Commissioner shall ensure that each warden designates a visiting area for a noncontact visit and establishes procedures for its use.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Religious Visits. The name of a certified religious visitor shall be recorded on the inmate visitor record, but not counted in the maximum 15 visitors. Religious visits shall be managed according to institutional procedure.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>Legal Visits.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The Commissioner shall ensure that each warden establishes procedures for an inmate visit with an attorney.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>An attorney need not be on the inmate visitor record, but shall have proper identification.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>A legal assistant who visits an inmate shall present a letter of introduction signed by an attorney on the firm's stationery.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>The Commissioner may not set a time limit for an attorney visit.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>An attorney shall visit during regular visiting hours unless a special arrangement is made with the warden.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>Special Visits. A warden shall establish procedures for special visits.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Records of Inmate Visits.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A warden of a receiving institution shall ensure that during the reception process, an inmate visitor record form is established for each inmate.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Each inmate may submit a list of up to 15 names, addresses, and relationships of intended visitors to be included on the list.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>An inmate shall place the name of an intended visitor who is 18 years old or older on the inmate's visitor record.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>An inmate is not required to list children under 18 years old on the visitor record.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>Only those persons on the inmate visitor record will be approved to visit an inmate. However, the Commissioner shall establish procedures to provide for the following types of visits:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Religious;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Legal; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Special.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="F.">
      <text>When an inmate is transferred, the sending institution shall forward the inmate visitor record to the receiving institution at the time of the transfer, to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Ensure a continuous record of an inmate's visits; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Eliminate the need for a new record to be established.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Visitor Requirements.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A visitor shall present one of the following types of identification:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Driver's license;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Age of majority card;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Birth certificate;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Social security card; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>Other State, federal, or private industry-issued photograph identification.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The Commissioner shall ensure that a person younger than 18 years old who intends to visit an inmate is accompanied by an adult. The officer in charge of the visiting area may request identification for verification of age.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" heading="Visitor Searches.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The Commissioner shall require a visitor to pass through a metal detector or be searched by a scanning device upon entering all Division facilities, except prerelease units.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The Commissioner shall ensure that each warden establishes procedures to frisk search visitors randomly on a daily basis.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>When a frisk search is conducted, the individual conducting a search shall be the same sex as the person being searched.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>A visitor shall complete and sign a consent to search form.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>The Commissioner shall ensure that a warden establish procedures to maintain a copy of the consent to search form in the base file of an inmate being visited. The Commissioner shall ensure that the original copy of this form is kept on file by the warden.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="F.">
      <text>The Commissioner shall ensure that a visitor who refuses to submit to a search is denied visiting privileges for that day.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="G.">
      <text>If a visitor possesses contraband in violation of the criminal statute, the contraband shall be confiscated and a law enforcement agency notified.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".07" heading="Visitor Rules and Visit Guidelines.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>During a visit, a visitor shall follow visiting room rules and shall maintain control of children who may be participants in the visit.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>A visit may be disapproved by the institutional shift commander if the visitor:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Is under the influence of a drug or alcohol;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Refuses to submit to search procedure;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Fails to provide sufficient identification;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Provides falsified identification;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>Is younger than 18 years old and is not accompanied by an adult;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(6)">
        <text>Violates a facility visiting rule posted in the visiting room; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(7)">
        <text>Possesses contraband.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>If a visitor is denied a visit for a reason included in §B of this regulation, and the visitor refuses to leave the facility, the police of the jurisdiction in which the facility is located shall be notified, and the visitor shall be treated as a trespasser in accordance with Criminal Law Article, §6-409, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>A visit may be terminated or shortened if:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The visitor or inmate fails to prevent children from disturbing another person in the visiting area;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The visitor or the inmate is verbally or physically disruptive and jeopardizes visiting room operations or the security of the institution;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>The visitor and inmate engage in excessive physical contact;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>The inmate violates a rule or regulation of the institution;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>There is insufficient space for a visit in the visiting room;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(6)">
        <text>An institutional crisis exists;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(7)">
        <text>A visitor violates a facility visiting rule posted in the visiting room; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(8)">
        <text>Another reason exists which is determined by the warden.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>The Commissioner shall ensure that each warden requires the approval of the shift commander to terminate a visit. The shift commander shall provide the warden with a report stating the specific reasons for terminating a visit.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".08" heading="Suspension of a Visitor's Visiting Privilege.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A warden may suspend a person from visiting an inmate for a designated or indefinite period of time when there is clear and convincing evidence that a visit would jeopardize the safety or security of the institution.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The Commissioner shall ensure that each warden bases suspension of visiting privileges on:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>A review of the information provided in the supervisor's report of the incident; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Information provided by staff, the inmate, and the visitor.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The Commissioner shall ensure that a warden sends a written notice of a decision to suspend visiting privileges for a specified or indefinite period of time to the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Inmate;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Inmate base file;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Visitor; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Assistant commissioner for field services.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>The Commissioner may authorize each warden to omit justification for the suspension or termination of a visit from the written notice when the security of an institution or the safety of an individual would be affected.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>A notice of suspension or termination of visiting privilege shall include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>A statement of the reasons for the suspension;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The length of the suspension or termination; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>A statement advising the visitor that the visitor may appear before the warden for a hearing regarding the suspension or termination of visiting privileges.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="F.">
      <text>The Commissioner shall ensure that a warden:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Writes a report of a hearing held regarding suspension or termination of a visitor's visiting privileges; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Sends a copy of the report to the assistant commissioner for field services.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="G.">
      <text>The Commissioner shall ensure that a warden attaches the letter of notification to the inmate visiting card when a visitor's visiting privilege is suspended.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="H.">
      <text>The visitor may request a warden to reinstate a suspended or terminated visiting privilege upon the inmate's transfer to another maintaining institution.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Correctional Services Article, §2-109(c), Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: February 3, 1992 (19:2 Md. R. 155)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulations .01—.08 repealed as an emergency provision effective August 26, 2013 (40:19 Md. R. 1542); emergency status extended to June 30, 2014 (41:2 Md. R. 89); emergency status expired June 30, 2014</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>