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Roadmap to Reopening Update – The Inmate Visiting Program, May 06, 2021

Introduction

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide an update to the December 11, 2020 “Letter to All Approved Visitors” and the accompanying “Letter to All Inmates.” The California Department of Corrections (CDCR) began piloting real-time video visiting on November 28, 2020. On April 10, 2021, CDCR added in-person visiting at all institutions. The following protocols will be in effect May 3, 2021.

The Inmate Visiting Program will continue to expand incrementally through Phases 2 and 3 as cycles of testing and vaccination data indicate we can move forward safely. Visitors will continue scheduling in-person and video visits through the Visitation Scheduling Application (VSA).

Special attention should be placed upon the ventilation of the identified visiting areas. Outside visitation is preferred from a COVID-19 mitigation standpoint. If indoor visitation is utilized, ventilation should be optimized through the use of open windows, high efficiency filters, etc.

Roadmap Phase Definitions:

  • Phase 1: Three or more positive COVID-19 inmate related cases as determined by a contact investigation with in a 14 day period.
  • Phase 2: To move from Phase 1 to Phase 2, a facility must have experienced no new outbreak cases for at least 14 days.
  • Phase 3: To move from Phase 2 to Phase 3, a facility must have experienced no new outbreak cases for at least 28 days

Visiting During Phase 1 of the Roadmap to Reopening

  • Video visiting shall be offered. Face to face visiting shall not be offered.

Visiting During Phase 2 of the Roadmap to Reopening

  • In person and/or video visiting.
  • One approved visitor shall be allowed per incarcerated person.
  • The maximum in-person visit length may be two hours, video visiting will remain one hour.
  • Face coverings shall be required.
  • Six feet physical distancing shall be maintained between visitors and incarcerated persons, and between one group of visitors and another.
  • Unvaccinated visitors shall be required to present a negative COVID-19 test obtained within three days prior to the visit.
  • Unvaccinated incarcerated persons shall be required to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to the visit.
  • Fully vaccinated visitors and incarcerated persons shall not be required to test prior to the visit.
  • Visitors are required to present their vaccination card indicating they are two weeks past the final injection of their vaccination series.
  • All incarcerated persons shall be COVID-19 tested by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 72- 96 hours after the visit.
  • Incarcerated persons who decline testing shall not be eligible for in-person visiting.
  • No food shall be allowed.
  • Water bottles shall be made available to visitors and incarcerated persons.

Visiting During Phase 3 of the Roadmap to Reopening

  • In-person and/or video visiting shall be offered.
  • In-person visiting will consist of a two hour visit for two additional adult or minor visitors (age 2 and above), for a total of three approved visitors, per incarcerated person.
  • Child play areas will be made available. COVID-19 sanitation protocols will be followed throughout the visiting day.
  • Face coverings shall be required.
  • Six feet physical distancing shall be maintained between visitors and incarcerated persons, and six feet of physical distancing between one group of visitors and another.
  • Unvaccinated visitors shall be required to present a negative COVID-19 test obtained within three days prior to the visit.
  • Unvaccinated incarcerated persons shall be required to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to the visit.
  • Fully vaccinated visitors and incarcerated persons shall not be required to test prior to the visit.
  • Visitors are required to present their vaccination card indicating they are two weeks past the final injection of their vaccination series.
  • All incarcerated persons shall be COVID-19 tested by PCR 72-96 hours after the visit.
  • Incarcerated persons who decline testing shall not be eligible for in-person visiting.
  • Vending machine food shall be allowed.
  • Water bottles shall be made available to visitors and incarcerated persons when vending machines are not available.
  • Family Visiting shall be introduced. To allow institutions time to contact vendors, and ensure Family Visiting units are prepared for use, Family Visits may begin the week of June 7, 2021.

Specifics regarding the COVID-19 related testing, face coverings, and physical distancing requirements will be periodically updated and communicated to the field. Institutions will promptly update their visiting information page and VSA when a facility’s status changes or is suspected to change {e.g., pending no additional positive cases we expect to progress to Phase 2 on May 21, 2021).