Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - Operations Manual

Chapter 5 – Adult Custody and Security Operations

Article 42 – Visiting

Revised May 1, 2003

Revised January 10, 2014

Staff may conduct a clothed body search and use a variety of detection devices when the visitor fails to clear any contraband/metal detection device, or information has been obtained indicating that a visitor is in possession of contraband as described in DOMDepartment Operations Manual Chapter 5, Article 20. To ensure security, a clothed body search may be used in conjunction with the hand-held wand inspection. A clothed body search may also be performed as a stand-alone procedure, when appropriate, or to resolve alarms set off during an inspection by a metal detector. A clothed body search may include touching sensitive areas of the body.
Visiting staff of the same sex as the visitor shall conduct authorized clothed body searches.
In emergency situations, custody staff of either sex may conduct a clothed body search.
Removal of outer garments, heavy clothing, and possibly shoes may be requested to complete the security search.
Discretion shall be exercised when issuing instructions to persons being searched.
Clothed body searches may be conducted on reasonable suspicion that the visitor is carrying contraband.