General Visitation

The violation of visiting rules may result in the temporary or permanent loss of visiting privileges.

Address and Name Changes Visitors must report change of address and name change information to the visiting room staff at the first visit following the change.

Allowed Items for Visitors Photo identification, money for vending machines (if available), vehicle keys, and if small children are visiting a diaper bag (may contain two (2) bottles of formulas, milk, water or juice, a pacifier, diapers and a container of baby food or cereal). Prescription medication (must not be expired, issued to the visitor, and in the original container) that must be taken during the visit or available for emergency use such as an inhaler for an asthma attack (after seeing the original container a single or appropriate dose will be allowed to accompany the visitor into visiting).

Allowed Items for Attorneys and Their Agents One (1) legal pad, one (1) black ink pen (stick not push), one (1) notary stamp, legal pleadings to be signed or reviewed, testing materials, authorized testing equipment. No items will be removed or left without prior written approval from the facility head or designee.

Approval Visitors must be on the approved list before they may visit.

Attire Garments should be conservative and modest. Proper underclothing must be worn. Not allowed: sleeveless garments, bare midriffs, blue denim jeans, scrubs, shorts, cutoffs, or mini skirts, bare feet, spandex, low cut or see-through clothing. Multi layered clothing that could be used to conceal contraband, such as coats and sweatshirts are not allowed. Correctional staff will use discretion with young children, normally those under eight (8) years of age. Blue jeans or scrubs may be worn at a community work center.

Behavior The Department of Correction will not tolerate disrespect or aggressive behavior to include loud, threatening, abusive, or profane language; verbal or physical altercations towards staff members, offenders, or visitors; or improper use or abuse of state property.

Cell Phones and Electronic Devices No cell telephones, beepers, laptop/palm computers, or other electronic equipment are allowed.

Cleaning Visiting Area Offenders and their visitors will cleanup their assigned area at the end of the visit.

Children Escorting parents must supervise and provide appropriate control of their children. Offenders will not discipline visiting children. Corporal punishment, generally defined as any measure intended to be injurious to an individual, is prohibited during visits.

Contraband It is a crime to introduce weapons, drugs, or other contraband into a correctional facility. Staff may search any items entering the visiting area. The IDOC uses metal detectors, trained narcotics and tobacco detection dogs, and searches of visitors and their property to enforce state law (Idaho Code Sections 18-2503, 18-2504, and 18-2510).

Drug-Related Disciplinary Offense Reports (DOR) If an offender is found guilty of a drug related DOR, no visits will be allowed for six (6) months.

Exchanging items Visitors may not give or receive any item from an offender.

Food and Drink No food or drink from outside the facility (except for infants - see Allowed Items) is allowed to be brought into minimum, medium, or close custody facilities. If vending machines are present in the visiting room, visitors may purchase food and drink items for consumption by the visitor and offender. Visitors must take unopened food and drink items with them at the end of visiting. Visitors must provide their own change or vending card.

Identification Visitors over the age of sixteen (16) must have current photo identification (driver’s license, state-issued identification (ID), military ID, or a current United States passport). Visitors who are not United States citizens may be approved to visit, if they meet the provisions of this SOP and have the necessary documents to prove they have entered the United States legally and are currently legal visitors to this country.

Leaving the Visiting Area During Visits Neither offenders nor visitors can leave the visiting room and then return except for approved restroom procedures or for an administrative need.

Medium and Higher Custody Level Facilities Offenders and visitors will remain at the assigned seating unless authorized by staff. Children will remain at the table or play area unless escorted by visiting parent or guardian. Offenders and visitors may not visit with other offenders or their visitors.

Maintaining Current Visitor Information Visitors must report any new arrests or pending charges to the visiting room officer at the first visit following the arrest or new charge.

Over-Crowding If the visiting area reaches capacity, staff will first ask for volunteers willing to end their visit early. If no one volunteers, the staff will end visits based on length of visit and distance traveled.

Physical Contact Limited to a brief kiss and embrace at the beginning and end of the visit. The following are allowed in minimum/community custody facilities, holding hands in plain view, arm around the shoulder with hand on the shoulder. Children age six (6) and younger may sit on the offender's lap. Good-byes are said in the assigned visiting area.

Search All persons, their vehicles, and possessions on IDOC property or entering an IDOC correctional facility are subject to search.

Schedules and Facility Rules Visitors must abide by the facility visiting schedule, facility rules, the visiting policy, the visiting Standard Operating Procedure, and instructions of staff members. Offenders are responsible to notify their visitors of changes in visiting schedules and rules.

Tobacco-Free Facilities All IDOC facilities are tobacco free. Visitors must not bring any form of tobacco into an IDOC facility. Tobacco is a serious contraband issue in IDOC facilities, creating problems that include the risk of serious injury to offenders.

Termination of Visiting Privileges Visitation privileges may be terminated at the discretion of the facility head or designee for any length of time, including permanently, for violation or attempted violation of any state or federal law, any Board rule, Policy and Procedure, SOP, field memoranda, or failure to follow staff instructions.

Under the Influence A visitor suspected to be under the influence of intoxicating beverages or drugs will be denied visitation. Visitation privileges may be temporally or permanently revoked.

Visiting Limitations Visitors, except immediate family, may not be on more than one (1) offenders approved visitor list at a time. A six (6) month interval must pass after asking to be removed from one (1) offender’s approved visitation list and submitting an application to visit another offender.

Visit Only the Offender Approved Visitors shall visit only the offender whom they are approved to visit.