When a loved is incarcerated over the holidays, you are probably having questions like “how to visit inmates at Connecticut prisons?” and are the prisons allowing visitors?. Visiting an incarcerated loved one is a complex process that requires time and patience. Before visiting a family member who is being held at a correctional facility, you should get the best detailed information ahead of time.
With the added layer of COVID-19 oftentimes making in-person contact not possible, seeing incarcerated family and friends has become even more difficult during the pandemic. On November 30th, the Connecticut Department of Corrections temporarily suspended in-person visits to inmates at local prisons in Connecticut. As the holiday season begins, here is how you can connect with an incarcerated loved one for the 2021 festivities.
Why In-Person Visits at Connecticut Prisons are Now Virtual
As of December 6th, COVID-19 cases at Connecticut correctional facilities have begun to worsen. There are currently 162 staff members who are recovering from having COVID-19, while there are 127 staffers who have reported symptoms of the virus. There are currently 123 symptomatic offenders with COVID-19 throughout all Connecticut correctional facilities, with two reported positives being treated at local hospitals for their symptoms. These positive cases pass the 5% threshold the department set in place for positive COVID-19 cases, causing the correctional facilities to close their doors to visitors for the time being.
How to visit inmates at Connecticut prisons has been affected by the lower rate of vaccination. Currently, there are only 5,003 inmates and 3,339 correctional staffers vaccinated for COVID-19 throughout the entire state. These low numbers have been related to the high number of COVID-19 cases recently found among the correctional facility population throughout the state. Inmates and their loved ones have faced challenges as a consequence of pandemic’ closures since 2020.
How to Visit Inmates at Connecticut Prisons Virtually
Even though in-person visits to inmates have been temporarily suspended, families can visit inmates through a virtual visit online. The process for scheduling one of these visits is similar to the process for an in-person visit.
Find the Inmate
The first step in this process is to find where the inmate is being incarcerated. There is a website on Connecticut’s Department of Corrections that can help with this search. Find the facility and specific location within the facility that the inmate is being held at.
Get Approved for a Visit at the Prison
To visit an inmate at a Connecticut prison, you will have to be put on the inmate’s approved visitors list. The inmate will have the option to submit names and addresses of potential visitors that they would want to see while they are incarcerated. Counselors at the facilities will then send a copy of the Visitor Application Form to prospective visitors, and they will then fill the form out and either mail or return the form to the facility in person. In about two to three weeks, the visitor will be approved and placed on the inmate’s approved visitors list.
Since the process of approval takes a while, the facility will typically allow two adult members of the inmate’s immediate facility to visit without the form of approval.
Schedule your Visiting Time
One of the most important parts in the process of visiting your inmate is scheduling your visit. Visitors won’t be able to schedule their visit until they are placed on the inmate’s approved visitors list. Only one visit may be scheduled at a time, and visitors can include both adults and children.
Most Connecticut prisons are strict on time. The appointment must be scheduled at least 72-hours in advance of the visit, and the visit won’t be officially scheduled until the facility sends out confirmation to the visitors. Visiting hours are not open during state-recognized holidays, including holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Typically, visits can only be scheduled during visiting hours, and these will vary depending on the specific facility that the inmate is being held at.
Plan your Visit
Each facility website has different rules about scheduling and specific contact information for cancellation on the facility’s websites. Visits can be canceled at any time by the facility because of safety and security reasons, so it is recommended that visitors reference the website before their scheduled time.
How to Set Up for Virtual Video Visits With an Inmate in CT
You may have many questions about prison visitation. For example, how to visit inmates at Connecticut prisons may differ from prisons in New York City. To set up a vide visit, a visitor will need to have access to Microsoft Teams on a mobile or laptop with video and audio capabilities for a virtual visit. These visitors must also be on the approved visitor’s list for an inmate, and all correctional center policies for visitors will also apply to those on the virtual call.
This includes abiding by the dress code, arriving at least 15-minutes before the scheduled visit time, and showing proof of identification. Three adults may participate in this video visit and if a minor wishes to do so as well, they can along with the supervision of an adult. Video visits will be recorded by staff but cannot be recorded through personal devices and can last up to 30 minutes.
For more detailed information about how to visit inmates at Connecticut prisons and the visiting process for a specific correctional center, refer to 3-D Bail Bonds’ blog here.
