January 26, 2024, 10:00am
Ability to Reserve Cancel Visits
It’s not an option to do this online because it takes time for the system to load everything. However, people do have the option to call in within 48 hours before visiting to see if anyone has cancelled. CDCR will be reaching out to the institutions concerning this.
Family Visits
Have specific cases sent to CDCR so they can investigate and address each of them. There have been instances where CDCR has been found in error, and vice versa.
Conditions of the family visiting units. SIFC asked if all institutions are going to update the units like what was pictured in OPEC for Wasco. There are no special funds for upgrading the FV units, however if the institutions can fit it in their budget, they could.
IFC By-Laws and Membership
It is the responsibility of the IFC to manage the committee membership. The institution only has the final say to membership according to the by-laws. Local Facilities cannot change the by-laws.
CDCR will be looking at the local by-laws for standardization and will include SIFC.
Updates to Visiting Regulations and the Visiting Application
Example of new application was given, and CDCR is in the process of finalizing. The new application will remove the question to list your criminal history. Backgrounds will still be checked; however, the visitor will not need to list the offensives. The new regulations are also being updated to reflect this but will take a little longer.
Visiting Attire Clarifications
Website was updated to reflect this. Restrictions on color of clothing is chambray blue and camouflage. Visitors cannot wear blue denim pants or what resembles officers’ uniforms or what incarcerated people wear only during visiting. CDCR repeatedly trains on this and will continue to train. Allowable items were reiterated, gray on gray is okay, other blues are okay, green is okay, white is okay. CDCR will request all DOM supplements again, to insure they do not further restrict DOM.
SIFC would like CDCR to ensure that memos are also sent to SIFC team because currently it is hit and miss.
Dollar Amount Allowed
Allowable amounts will be adults- $100 and juveniles- $50 each person once the new regs come out.
Question: Could people start using debit cards instead of cash? CDCR will investigate. CDCR needs to make sure the machines can take debit cards.
Question: Could visitors start bringing in more than $1s, such as 5’s and 10’s. CDCR will investigate this. The machines must be able to handle the larger bills. To make changes with the vending machines, CDCR will survey all the prisons to make sure all machines can handle larger bills, will they be able to make change for the larger bills, and will they accept debt cards. Once this is determined they will be able to make definite decisions.
Search & Wanding
CDCR does want the 888 forms from searching, it allows CDCR to know what is going on in visiting. Institutions should let people visit if, after wanding, it is determined the reason is hooks and clasps. Bra underwire is still prohibited.
Visiting Hours
Pelican Bay and High Desert have shortened hours for Bifurcated and EOP programs. Many facilities have not shortened their visiting programs, so CDCR will investigate this and insure proper visiting hours are available to everyone while adapting to the ever-changing population.
Trans Metro Summary Stats
Trans Metro will not be continued due to cost and lack of riders.
Ciris Not Updating Specific Camps
SIFC shared concerns that families do not know where loved ones are in Fire Camps. It is for the safety of the incarcerated people due to the remoteness of the camps; however the incarcerated person does have the ability to let the family know where he is.
ADA Seating
SIFC would like to see institutions have larger and sturdier chairs that would accommodate greater weight and larger stature.
Question concerning handicap parking, can someone with a handicap placard park in the staff parking spots when the handicap spaces are all taken. CDCR will investigate.
AB 1226
Language is still being updated through the legislature. CDCR is trying to take family ties into consideration when housing incarcerated people, while also ensuring the mental health and medicals needs and other factors are met. There is no special form to fill out, it is done in the regular classification process.
Availability of DOM Supplement / OP Regarding Visiting and Mail
Some institutions are refusing to give the IFC the DOM supplements for the mail room, visiting and family visiting. CDCR will retrain concerning this. IFCs can have these documents.
Form 7385
Expiration date removed, is being confirmed.
SB 542
SIFC would like both the IFCs, and IACs meet to discuss the funds each year. Some institutions allow this, but most do not. CDCR will consider.
Notary
Some institutions do not have a notary available or charge a great amount for a notary. CDCR will investigate.
Sensory Toys
SIFC wants to know if these toys could be allowed into visiting. CDCR will consider this.