prison contact visits

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Contact Visits For Texas Inmates

What are contact visits in texas prisons.

Contact visits for Texas inmates are face-to-face meetings between inmates and their loved ones without physical barriers, allowing for limited physical contact. In Texas, both jails and prisons have specific rules and regulations governing contact visits, including eligibility criteria, scheduling, and procedures.

Eligibility for Contact Visits for Texas Prison Inmates

Inmate classification and behavior.

Inmates must be classified as minimum or medium custody and maintain a good disciplinary record. Inmates with disciplinary infractions or a history of violence may be denied contact visits.

Visitor Approval Process

Visitors must be approved by the  Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)  before being allowed to make visitation information and participate in contact visits. This involves submitting a visitation application and undergoing a background check. Only approved visitors, such as immediate family members and close friends, will be allowed to participate in contact visits for Texas inmates.

Are Conjugal Visits Allowed in Texas?

Conjugal visits, also known as extended family visits or private family visits, are visits that allow inmates in prison to spend time with their spouses or significant others in a private, home-like setting. These visits are typically unsupervised and can last for several hours or even days, depending on the jurisdiction and the specific rules governing the visits.

Current Status Of Conjugal Visits In Texas Prisons

As of now, Texas does not allow conjugal visits for inmates in its  state prisons . The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has consistently maintained a policy against allowing these visits, citing concerns over safety, security, and costs associated with implementing such a program.

Procedures for Contact Visits in Texas Prisons

Scheduling contact visits.

Once a visitor has been approved, they must schedule their contact visit. Contact visits for Texas inmates in prison are typically held on weekends and holidays, with a limited number of slots available. It is essential to schedule your visit in advance to ensure a spot.

Rules And Regulations For Contact Visits For Texas Inmates

During contact visits, both the visitor and the inmate must follow strict rules to ensure the safety and security of everyone involved. These rules may include:

• Dress code requirements for visitors
• Restrictions on items brought into the visitation area
• Limited physical contact, such as brief hugs and handshakes

Violating these rules may result in the termination of the visit or loss of contact visitation privileges.

Are conjugal visits allowed for Texas inmates?

No, conjugal visits are not allowed for Texas inmates. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) does not permit conjugal visits, which are private visits between an inmate and their spouse, typically for the purpose of maintaining intimate relationships. In Texas, only contact visits are allowed, and these visits have strict rules and limitations, including restrictions on physical contact and  online video visitation .

Do Texas inmates ever get privacy with visitors?

In Texas, inmates do not get privacy with visitors during regular visits, including contact visits. Visits are closely monitored by correctional staff to ensure the safety and security of everyone involved. In contact visits, there may be limited physical contact allowed, such as brief hugs and handshakes, but there is no privacy provided for inmates and their visitors. This restriction is in place to prevent contraband exchange and other security risks associated with private visits.

Were conjugal visits ever allowed for Texas inmates?

Conjugal visits were never allowed for Texas inmates. TDCJ has not permitted conjugal visits in its history. Texas only allows contact visits, which are face-to-face meetings between inmates and their loved ones without physical barriers, but with strict rules and limitations for special visits, including restrictions on physical contact. The rationale behind not allowing conjugal visits in Texas, as in many other states, includes concerns about security risks, potential contraband exchange, and the cost of maintaining facilities and staff for such visits.

What states allow conjugal visits?

Only a few states in the United States allow conjugal visits, also known as extended family visits or private family visits. These states are:

• Connecticut

It is essential to note that policies regarding conjugal visits may change over time, and each state may have its specific eligibility requirements and regulations. Before planning a conjugal visit, check the most recent policies and guidelines provided by the respective state’s department of corrections.

What type of items can visitors bring for Texas inmates?

Visitors are generally not allowed to bring items directly to inmates during visits at Texas correctional facilities. However, there are specific items that may be allowed in the visitation area for the visitors’ use during the visit. These prohibited items may include:

• A small wallet or clear plastic bag containing identification, car keys, and a small amount of cash or coins for vending machines, if available.
• Necessary medications, such as asthma inhalers, nitroglycerin tablets, or EpiPens, in their original containers, with prior approval from the facility.
• Baby care items for visitors with infants, such as diapers, wipes, and a baby bottle, in a clear plastic bag. The items should be the minimum necessary for the visit’s duration.

It is crucial to check the specific rules and regulations for the jail or prison you plan to visit, as each facility may have its guidelines regarding items allowed during visitation.

Most Texas correctional facilities have a  commissary system , where friends and family members can deposit money into an inmate’s account, allowing the inmate to purchase approved items such as food, personal hygiene products, and stationery.

FAQs: Texas Inmate Visitation

A contact visit is a face-to-face meeting between an inmate and an approved visitor without physical barriers, allowing for limited physical contact.

You must submit a visitation application and undergo a background check by the TDCJ. Only immediate family members and close friends may be approved for contact visits.

Contact visits are typically held on weekends and holidays, with a limited number of slots available.

No, only inmates classified as minimum or medium custody and with a good disciplinary record are eligible for contact visits.

Rules for contact visits may include dress code requirements, restrictions on items brought into the visitation area, and limits on physical contact between inmates and visitors.

Violating contact visit rules may result in the termination of the visit or loss of contact visitation privileges.

Once you are an approved visitor, you must schedule your contact visit in advance, typically through the prison’s visitation office.

Yes, contact visits can be denied for various reasons, such as the inmate’s disciplinary record, visitor background check results, or if visitation rules are violated.

If you believe your visitation rights have been violated, reach out to an experienced criminal defense attorney to help you understand and assert your rights.

Call Varghese Summersett today at 817-203-2220 or contact us online for expert legal assistance regarding visitation rights and procedures.

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Jail and Prison Inmate Visitation – General Rules and Guidelines for Visiting an Inmate in a County Jail

Posted 2/6/2011 by Mark Miclette Inmate Visitation , Visitation

WARNING - Take these Visitation Guidelines Seriously!

Failure to adhere to these guidelines will either make your trip a wasted one or worse, prohibit you from ever going back. Even more troubling, some violations of the jail’s rules could land you in jail as well. Never have in your possession drugs or alcohol of any kind, nor be under the influence while visiting a jail or prison. In some jails and prisons possession of tobacco on their property could land you in serious legal trouble.

Do not take any chances. Lockup facilities take their guidelines VERY seriously.

For a list of Guidelines and Schedules for your jail or prison, use the JAILexchange Search feature to search Visitation Rules for every one of America’s 9,000 US Jails and Prisons .

General Guidelines

When visiting, each visitor age 16 or older must have one of the following unexpired types of identification:

• Driver's license
• Federal, state, local government identification card (any state)
• Military identification
• U.S. Immigration identification (including visas)
• Border crossing card issued by the United States Department of Justice
• Current high school identification
• Matricula Consular ID card issued after April 22, 2002 by the Consul General of Mexico

Walk-in visits will be accepted, on a space available basis—and first come, first served—as long as the visitors check in one hour before the visit time. Once a visit is scheduled, no “add-ons” will be made over the phone. Additional visitors may be allowed, up to the maximum of three, by arriving one hour prior to the visit and checking in with the other visitors. Cancellations are not accepted over the phone. However, due to security reasons, many jails do not accept "walk-in" visits.

While jails attempt to honor all visit reservations, visits may be changed or cancelled without notice. Also, changes in the inmate’s housing assignments may automatically cancel a scheduled visit. Visits will not be scheduled if the inmate has been previously scheduled for court on the same date.

Many jails require that the visitor be approved in advance by the inmate they wish to visit.

Many jails require a visit to be scheduled using a form filled out in advance and submitted for approval to the jail.

Visitors must usually check in together one hour before the scheduled visit. If a visitor is late, the visit may be cancelled.

A maximum of 3 visitors (including children) may visit an inmate at any one time, and only one visit is allowed per day. Some jails only allow one or two visitors at one time.

Most jail visits are limited to 15-30 minutes in length. Frequency of visits depends on the jail. Some allow only one, others as many as five, although that is rare.

Minors must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.

Visit times are subject to change or cancellation due to facility security or disciplinary reasons.

Disabled access visiting areas are available in some jails. If you have special needs, please inform the staff when you reserve the visit.

Young children are allowed, however if they are excessively noisy or unruly, the visit will be terminated.

If you are on probation, Watch Commander approval is necessary to visit.

There is no expectation of privacy in a jail facility. Social visits may be monitored or recorded.

Standard Dress Code: No strapless garments, no halter-tops, no bare midriffs, no see-through, wrap around skirts, tops or dresses. No mini-skirts or short dresses. Shorts must not be shorter than mid-thigh in length. No slits on skirts or dresses. No latex or skintight pants, skirts or shorts.

If you have previously been convicted of a felony and served time in a jail or state prison, you may not enter the grounds of a County Jail without the permission of the Facility Commander. That permission should be obtained in writing before attempting to schedule a visit. Entry to the facility grounds without such permission is a felony in some states.

An excessive pattern of late arrivals or “no-shows” for visits will result in the loss of phone reservation privileges or the suspension of visits.

‘Contact Visits’

Some jails allow ‘contact’ visits, though this is rare. The following additional visit regulations must be observed when having contact visits:

• Nothing is to be brought into the facility except I.D. and car keys. One blanket, one diaper, and one bottle can be brought in for a baby. The following items are specifically prohibited: purses or bags, food or beverages, pets, firearms, knives, or other weapons, drugs or alcohol, and cigarettes. Keys are to be hung on board provided. All visitors must have a reservation to visit.
• No reclining together on the floor or tabletops. Visitors and inmates must sit across from each other, no laying or sitting on laps, no draping of legs, no body rubs/massages, no hugging, no straddling benches. Usually a single kiss is allowed at the start of a visit and again at the conclusion.

Jails and prisons have strict guidelines for a reason, the safety and security of the staff and other inmates. Please check with the facility regarding their rules and schedules before considering an inmate visit.

______________________________________________________________________

To conduct a free Inmate Search for any one of America’s 9,000 Jails and Prisons, click here .

To lookup Visitation Rules and Schedules for any one of America’s 9,000 Jails and Prisons, click here .

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Visit an incarcerated person

Service overview.

Incarcerated people can receive visitors in prison for one hour each week. Walk-ins are not permitted. You must schedule your visit at least 48 hours in advance.

If you are visiting an incarcerated person, you can bring an outfit for them to attend court in .

Philadelphia prison facilities are operated by the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP) .

Who can visit an incarcerated person

Friends and family members can visit incarcerated people.

Children that are six months and older can visit with a parent or guardian. The adult must provide proof of custody or a birth certificate. Children cannot visit during school hours.

No more than one adult and one child can visit with a person at one time.

Who can’t visit an incarcerated person

You cannot visit someone in jail or prison at a PDP facility if you:

• Are on probation, parole, or conditional release including furlough and work release.
• Were incarcerated in any Philadelphia Department of Prisons facility in the last six months.
• Are believed to have a potential detrimental effect on the person you are visiting, or pose a security threat to the facility.
• Have had your visiting privileges suspended.

If you have been denied a visit because of one of the reasons above, you can request special permission from the facility’s warden.

Requirements

Visitors must follow a dress code. You may not wear:

• Plain white t-shirts.
• Clothing that closely resembles an incarcerated person’s uniform (orange jumpsuits, blue scrub tops).
• Hoodies or jackets with hoods.
• Hot pants or short-shorts. (Bermuda shorts are permissible.)
• Torn jeans.
• Revealing clothing or see-through fabric anywhere on the torso.
• Mini-skirts or dresses (must be within two inches of the knee).
• Low-rise pants or skirts that reveal undergarments.
• Clothing with offensive or provocative language.
• Clothing with writing across the seat of pants or skirt.
• Open-toe shoes.

Visitors must wear:

• Shirts with sleeves.

If you’re wearing leggings or stretch pants, your top must cover your hips when you raise your arms above your head.

Where and when

Appointments for visits are first-come, first-served. You must make your appointment between 48 hours and seven days in advance.

Saturday visits are reserved for designated facility populations. Holiday visits are only allowed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Visitors must be at the facility at least ten minutes before the scheduled visit.

Friends and family members can collect personal effects from the cashier during the hours listed below. The cashier’s office is open 24 hours a day at release.

Visiting hours by facility

* To visit an incarcerated person at the Detention Center (DC), Alternative & Special Detention Center (ASD), or ASD MOD III, go to the Riverside Correctional Facility (RCF) visiting lobby.

In the visiting area, you can store your belongings in a locker. You must have quarters for the lockers. There is no change machine in the waiting room.

They may ask you to loosen undergarments to perform the search. You also need to go through a metal detector.

If you feel that a search was improper, ask to speak to a supervisor or contact the Office of Community Justice Outreach (CJO) at (215) 685-8909 or (215) 685-7288 .

If the person you are visiting doesn’t want to see you, you will not be allowed to visit them. The PDP will not force anyone to meet a visitor if they don’t want to.

Related content

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• Send funds to an incarcerated person

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The New Jersey Department of Corrections encourages incarcerated persons to maintain relationships with family and their community, and facilitates visits in person, with and without contact.

All visits to NJDOC facilities are by appointment only and must be scheduled with the facility 48 hours in advance . All visitation guidelines are subject to change based on institutional need.

Please do not schedule a visit if you are experiencing cold, flu or COVID symptoms. Masks are available for use by incarcerated persons, visitors and staff.

   Do I need to bring identification?

Yes. All visitors must present photo ID.

Acceptable forms include:

• current photo driver’s license or MVC non-driver identification card,
• a current photo Welfare or Medicaid card,
• an employment photo ID, and
• a current passport.

   Is there a dress code?

Yes. Dress codes are in place to enhance the safety and security of NJDOC facilities, and we encourage you to carefully read the following before your visit.

Facility dress codes prohibit:

• skin-tight or transparent garments or those that expose undergarments or private body parts,
• exposed shoulders or midriffs,
• tube tops, tank tops, halter tops or low-cut shirts,
• hooded sweatshirts,
• bottoms that end more than three inches above the knee,
• low-rise shorts, skirts and pants,
• military-style clothing or those similar to items worn by incarcerated persons or NJDOC custody staff,
• flip-flops and steel-toed boots,
• clothing with inappropriate messages is strictly prohibited,
• some visitors wearing clothing deemed inappropriate may be given an alternative garment to wear during the duration of their visit.
• no clothing items resembling any healthcare style uniforms, such as scrubs or lab coats.

   Are there rules I have to follow?

Yes. Visits to NJDOC facilities are conducted in a supervised, secure environment, and certain rules are in place to enhance the safety and security of staff, visitors and the incarcerated population.

We encourage you to read the following carefully, as violation of these guidelines can result in your visit being cancelled. We reserve the right to ban disruptive persons from NJDOC facilities, at the discretion of NJDOC staff.

Relatives under the age of 18 shall not be permitted to visit NJDOC Incarcerated Persons unless accompanied by an adult relative who shall be responsible for obtaining written parental consent.

Prohibited acts include, but are not limited to:

• the introduction of contraband,
• violation of a posted rule or regulation,
• excessive touching or kissing, engaging in a sexual act,
• assaultive behavior towards another,
• belligerent behavior towards another,
• breach or attempted breach of security,
• visitor appears to be under the influence and/or intoxicated,
• visitor is confirmed as an ex-offender or current parolee and did not disclose this information prior to being approved as a visitor, etc.
• no hat or headgear, unless it is religiously oriented or medically necessary and the visitor agrees to a search of same.

   How do I schedule a visit?

Call the facility at the number below, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If your call is not answered or busy, please call back.

   Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center

• To schedule a visit, call (732) 574-2250 ext. 8006 , Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Address: 8 Production Way, Woodbridge, NJ 07001
• Regular Visits in the main unit (ADTC) and in the STU are held on Saturday and Sunday (two sessions).

   Bayside State Prison

• To schedule a visit, call (856) 785-0040 ext. 5416 , Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Address: 4293 Rte 47, Leesburg, NJ 08327

   East Jersey State Prison

• To schedule a visit, call (732) 499-5010 ext. 2908, prompt 1 , Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Address: 1100 Woodbridge Rd, Rahway, NJ 07065
• All contact visits are two (2) hours in duration.
• Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. for the morning visit session and 11:45 a.m. for the afternoon session.
• All visitors must register prior to entering the prison for visiting purposes.
• General Population inmates are allowed ONE contact visit per day during assigned visit session. Rahway Camp inmates are allowed contact visits during both visit sessions.
• All inmates are allowed a maximum of (4) adult visitors and an unlimited number of children during one visiting period.
• The Incentive Visit Program will be held on the weekend on every third Saturday. The Visit Lieutenant will determine whether this visit period is held outdoors or inside.

   Edna Mahan Correctional Facility

• Please be advised effective Monday, June 3, 2024, all calls pertaining to scheduling incarcerated person visits at EMCFW must be directed to (908) 735-7111, ext. 3611 and ext. 3634. Scheduling will take place between the hours of 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, Monday - Thursday.
• To schedule a visit, call (908) 735-7111 ext. 3421 , Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Address: 30 Route 513, Clinton, NJ 08809

   Garden State Youth Correctional Facility

• To schedule a visit, call (609) 298-6300 ext. 2598 or 2959 , Monday through Thursday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m
• Address: 55 Hogback Rd, Crosswicks, NJ 08515

   Mid-State Correctional Facility

• To schedule a visit, call 609-723-4221 ext. 8407 , Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Address: Fort Dix, NJ 08640

   New Jersey State Prison

• To schedule a visit, call (609) 292-9700 ext. 4555 or 4556 , Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Address: 600 Cass St, Trenton, NJ 08608
• All visits must be scheduled seven (7) days in advance.

   Northern State Prison

• To schedule a visit, call (973) 465-0068 Ext. 4402, Ext. 4403 , Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Address: 168 Frontage Rd, Newark, NJ 07114

   South Woods State Prison

• Visits will be held on Saturdays and Sundays for Facility 1, Facility 2, Facility 3, ECU and Minimum Unit.
• To schedule a visit, call (856) 459-7000 prompt 1, Mondays through Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Address: 215 S. Burlington Rd., Bridgeton NJ 08032

   VISITATION GUIDELINES

• All visits must be scheduled with the facility.
• All visitors must present photo identification.
• Acceptable forms of ID include:
• A current photo driver’s license or MVC non-driver identification card
• A current photo Welfare or Medicaid card
• An employment photo ID
• A current passport

   VISITOR DRESS CODE

• No transparent or fishnet clothing
• No clothing that exposes undergarments or a portion of the body considered private
• No skin-tight clothing
• Tops must cover shoulders and midriff areas. No tube tops, tank tops, halter tops, low-cut
• Bottoms must at least cover waist to mid-thigh. No shorts, skits or dresses ending above mid-thigh or which have an inseam length or slit ending more than three inches above the knee. No low-rise shorts, skirts or pants that expose the midriff or any portion of the buttocks
• No otherwise clearly inappropriate attire, as determined solely by the NJDOC staff on duty. This includes, but is not limited to:
• Military-style clothing worn by persons not in active military or reserve military status
• Clothing closely resembling that issued to the incarcerated population
• Clothing resembling that worn by custody staff or other law enforcement
• Professional styled uniforms such as, but not limited to medical/nursing, postal workers, delivery services, etc.
• Clothing depicting a message, either in wording or art, that could impact upon the safety, security or orderly operation of the correctional facility, including, but not limited to, that which is offensive, racist, sexually oriented or advocates illegal or narcotic activities
• No hats or headgear, unless it is religiously oriented or medically necessary, and the visitor agrees to a search of same
• No shoes or sneakers with wheels, flip flops or steel-toed boots

   TO SCHEDULE A VISIT

• Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center:
• 8 Production Way, Woodbridge, NJ 07095
• To schedule a visit, call between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. (732) 669-8006
• A.M. SESSION - MAIN Registration at main is 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., with visits from 9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
• P.M. SESSION - MAIN Registration at main is 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., with visits from 1:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
• A.M. SESSION - STU Registration for the STU is 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., with visits from 9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
• P.M. SESSION - STU Registration at the STU is 12:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., with visits from 1:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
• RHU visitation is from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.
• Bayside State Prison
• To schedule a visit, call between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m., Monday through Thursday. (856) 785-0040 ext. 5416
• Weekend Visits (Both Main compound and minimum unit)
• 8 a.m. -10:30 a.m. - Morning Session 12 p.m. 2:30 p.m. - Afternoon Session
• Primary Care Giver Visits
• Monday through Thursday 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. -11 a.m.
• Non-Contact (window) Visits
• 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.
• 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
• 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
• DCPP Visits
• 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• East Jersey State Prison
• Visitor info: https://www.state.nj.us/corrections/pdf/cia_visitation/EJSP.pdf
• To schedule a visit, call (732) 499-5010 Ext 2908, Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. or call (732) 499-5010 Ext 2908, Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Edna Mahan Correctional Facility
• Visitor info: https://www.state.nj.us/corrections/pdf/cia_visitation/EMCF.pdf
• To schedule a visit, call (908) 735-7111 ext. 3373, between 9 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday
• Garden State Youth Correctional Facility
• Visitor info: https://www.state.nj.us/corrections/pdf/cia_visitation/GYCF.pdf
• To schedule a visit, call between call between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday. (609) 298-6300, ext. 2598, 2959, or 2444
• Mid-State Correctional Facility
• Visitor info:
• To schedule a visit, call 609-723-4221 ext. 8407 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday
• New Jersey State Prison
• Visitor info: https://www.state.nj.us/corrections/pdf/cia_visitation/NJSP.pdf
• To schedule a visit, call (609) 292-9700 ext. 4555, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday
• Northern State Prison
• Visitor info: https://www.state.nj.us/corrections/pdf/cia_visitation/NSP.pdf
• To schedule a visit, call (973) 465-0068 Ext. 4402, Ext. 4403 or Ext. 4404, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• South Woods State Prison
• To schedule a visit, call (856) 459-7000, then press 1 to schedule, Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

   Visits To Incarcerated Primary Caregivers

The New Jersey Department of Corrections is sensitive to the particular needs of incarcerated primary caregivers, and provides several ways for incarcerated parents to maintain meaningful contact with their children.

NJDOC facilities will offer visits 6 days a week for up to three hours a day to incarcerated persons who qualify for such visits as defined by Dignity for Incarcerated Primary Caretaker Parents Act.

In accordance with the Dignity Act, the incarcerated person may:

• request to be identified a Primary Caretaker,
• request to participate in the extended visit program,
• and/or may request a transfer to the closest facility to where the children reside, if applicable.

It must be properly demonstrated that the incarcerated person has the role of primary caregiver to the incarcerated person’s child/children. Only children identified as such will be allowed visitation as part of the Dignity Act visitation program.

A Primary Caretaker Parent means any incarcerated person who has a child under the age of 18, who prior to the incarcerated person’s incarceration, spent the majority of days in the care of the incarcerated person, and whose access to that child has not been terminated by court order, the incarcerated person’s own request, or other circumstance.

Consideration of the following may be reviewed in determining the approval/denial of participation in this program:

• Department of Children and Family involvement, including, supervised visitation requirement;
• Court orders;
• or findings within authorized case tracking systems related to child involvement.

Participation in the Primary Caretaker Parent Visit Program allows for visits 6 days a week for up to three hours a day. These visits are for those individuals approved by Classification Committee(s) and permit an unlimited number of approved minors and three (3) approved adult visitors at least (1) of which who must accompany the minor(s). Incarcerated persons may also request a prison transfer to a facility based upon proximity to the approved minor(s).

   Bedside or Private Viewing

The NJDOC permits some incarcerated persons to attend the bedside of a dying relative, or a private viewing of a deceased relative when no other relative or friends are present, within a six-month time period.

All visits will be conducted in a manner that ensures the safety and security of NJDOC staff, the safety and protection of incarcerated persons, visitors, volunteers, and the general public. Please carefully note the following:

Verification: The burden is on the incarcerated person to prove that the ill or deceased person is a relative. The fact of the relative’s illness or death shall be verified by a member of the correctional facility’s Social Services staff. Additionally, Social Services staff shall coordinate the completion of the request for bedside visit and/or private viewing.

Eligibility: Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 30:4-8.1, the correctional facility Administrator or designee may, at his or her own discretion, authorized and permit the attendance of an incarcerated person at the bedside of a dying relative, or at a private viewing, when no relatives or friends are present, or a deceased relative as defined by N.J.A.C. 10A:1-2.2, within a six-month time period.

Ineligibility: The incarcerated person shall not be permitted to go on a bedside or private viewing under the following circumstances:

• the bedside or private viewing is outside the State of New Jersey,
• the bedside visit is in a private residence,
• the visit will interfere with the security or orderly operation of the correctional facility, or if the incarcerated person has demonstrated a poor correctional facility adjustment, is a known escape risk, has a history of guilty findings for serious disciplinary offenses or is recognized as untrustworthy,
• the incarcerated person and/or crime convicted of is highly publicized and the reappearance in the community under any conditions other than strict compliance with the laws governing parole and release would cause unfavorable comment in the community; or the location of the bedside visit, or private viewing could place either the escorting custody staff member(s) or the incarcerated person in jeopardy,
• the dying or deceased relative is a victim of the incarcerated person’s crime of conviction,
• if the Administrator is in doubt as to the propriety of permitting a particular incarcerated person to leave the correctional facility under the circumstances enumerated in this subchapter, the Administrator shall deny the request for a bedside visit of a private viewing of a deceased relative.

   Special Visits

When circumstances exist either in the incarcerated person’s status and/or potential visitor’s situation, the Administrator, or designee, may authorize a special visit.

Special visits may include, but are not limited to, the following circumstances:

• Visits from persons who have come long distances;
• Visits to hospitalized incarcerated persons;
• Visits to incarcerated persons in disciplinary status; and
• Members of the clergy;
• Social service agency representatives;
• Prospective employers;
• Sponsors; and v. Parole advisors v
• Other NJDOC incarcerated persons under exceptional circumstances (Example: imminent death of a terminally ill incarcerated person)
• “Cross Visits” (two incarcerated persons who are relatives and assigned to the same facility request a simultaneous visit with the same family member(s)). Special visits are conducted with the security and orderly operation of the facility as the first priority. Conditions of the special visit, including who may be approved to visit, length of visit, place of visit, etc., is determined by the facility administrator or designee.

   Attorney And Representative Visits

Recognizing the right of incarcerated persons to communicate with attorneys or attorney representatives and in accordance with state law , the NJDOC may authorize visits to facilities for this purpose.

All visits are held during normal business hours and are conducted with the safe, secure and orderly operation of NJDOC facilities as the first priority. In instances where a contact visit might pose a threat to the incarcerated person, visitor, staff and/or the secure or orderly operation of the facility, efforts shall be made to provide a non-contact visit.

Attorney Visit Regulations:

Written notification or a telephone request to the incarcerated person’s housing facility Administrator requesting a visit is required 24 hours in advance of the intended visit to ensure the availability of space, staff and the incarcerated person. This notice must include the following:

• Name of attorney, or attorney representative;
• Name of incarcerated person to be interviewed;
• Name of attorney for whom the representative is acting;
• Date and time of the requested interview.

The facility Administrator or designee may authorize a visit, under exceptional circumstances, without prior written notice, as required above.

Appropriate identification is required of attorneys and attorney representatives prior to being admitted to the facility for the visit.

Facility staff may verify the incarcerated person’s desire to meet with the requesting attorney or attorney representative.

Any attorney or attorney representative who appears on any Departmental “banned” list, is not permitted to visit.

Contact visits with attorneys or their representatives may be restricted or prohibited when, in the judgement of the correctional facility administrator or designee, the inmate is acting out or is especially dangerous. Contact visits may also be denied where the attorney or representative poses a threat to the security or orderly operation of the correctional facility. In cases in which contact visits have been denied, efforts shall be made to provide a non-contact visit consistent with the orderly operation of the correctional facility.

   VIDEO VISITATION

A. Video Visitation Procedure

To further promote bonds with loved ones and strengthen overall ties to the community, the NJDOC in partnership with JPay conducts the Video Connect program. Incarcerated persons can participate in 30-minute Video Connect sessions with loved one, via the JPAY kiosk screen,

Visitors can schedule 30-minute Video Connect sessions through the JPAY app or website, and the incarcerated person will be alerted to the session through their JPAY account. All visits must be registered three (3) days in advance and are limited to one per week.

No video visits will be conducted on weekends or holidays.

Visitors JPAY Profile information (Name, Address, etc.) must match an approved visitor on the incarcerated person’s ITag Visit List. All sessions are monitored and recorded by JPay and/or the NJDOC monitor and record your video connect session, and participants agree tha tthey are responsible for their conduct and for any consequences thereof in connection with use of the Video Connect Service.

Conduct that is inappropriate in any manner, including indecent exposure, will not be tolerated. If at any time during your video session, JPay or the Facility deems your conduct is inappropriate, your video session will be subject to immediate termination without warning.

Terminating your video session is at the sole discretion of JPay or the Facility and will not be refunded for terminations due to inappropriate conduct.

The Service should not be used by attorneys to communicate with incarcerated individuals as the content will not be treated as privileged and confidential.

Scheduled Visits will be cancelled for the following reasons:

1) Visitors JPAY PROFILE information (Name, Address, etc) does not match the inmates approved ITAG visit list

2) Visitor is not on the inmates approved ITag visit list

3) Visitor is not an approved visitor on the inmates ITAG list

4) Visitor is trying to schedule more than one visit in a week. You can only have 1 video visit per week.

5) Visitor is a minor (Minors cannot schedule video visits)

6) No Video Visits on weekends or holidays If a visit does not occur, JPay will issue a credit/refund within 14 days.

• No abusive, threatening and/or profane language.
• No use of slurs based on race, sex, age, religion, etc.
• No visits with individuals in which protection orders/court orders expressly prohibit.
• No utilization of illicit drugs use and/or alcohol or the display of the either.
• No physical altercations.
• No display of Security Threat Group/gang hand signs and/or paraphernalia and/or Security Threat Group/gang related activity.
• No display of any type of weapons or explosive devices.
• No display or discussion of any item or material that may be considered to be detrimental or pose a threat to the security and/or orderly running of the correctional facility because it incites violence or disruptive behavior toward: Law enforcement officers; Department of Corrections personnel; Correction facility inmates, visitors, or volunteers.
• No engagement in any type of criminal activity.
• No pictures, video recording, or screenshots taken at the time of visit.
• No Live Streaming.
• Inmates are responsible to report any illegal activity they may have witnessed during a video visit (i.e. child abuse etc.).
• No displaying of secondary videos or photographs that violate any of the unauthorized behaviors noted in the regulations.
• No visiting of inmates confined to any other jurisdiction without prior administrative approval.
• Any act not described above that gravely violates the sentiment or accepted societal standards.
• No transparent or fishnet clothing, bathing suits/swimsuits.
• No clothing which exposes undergarments or a portion of the body considered private.
• Tops should cover midriff areas. No low-cut shirts, or shirts which unnecessarily expose the midriff area.
• Bottoms must at least cover waist to mid-thigh. No shorts, skirts or dresses ending above mid-thigh, or which have an inseam length or slit ending more than three inches above the knee. No low-rise shorts, skirts or pants that expose the midriff area or any portion of the buttocks.
• Clothing depicting a message, either in wording or art, which could impact upon the safety, security or orderly operation of the correctional facility, including, but not limited to, that which is offensive, racist, sexually oriented, Security Threat Group related, or advocates illegal or narcotic activities.
• Engaging in a video visit with a visitor who is banned or unauthorized to have video visits.
• Using another visitors account
• No otherwise clearly inappropriate attire, as determined solely by the Department of Corrections staff on duty.

B. Video Visitation Bans

All video visitation will be monitored and the department has the authority to terminate any video visit at any time due to an established rule violation. The incarcerated person participating in the video visit shall be notified of the reason for the termination.

Users who participate in the video visitation program with inmates via the current electronic systems vendor, are subject to electronic vendor End User Agreements and terms of service. Violation of these terms may result in the immediate termination of the user’s account without refund. Any violations of the video visit guidelines may result in the immediate termination of a video visit session, temporary suspension of video visitation privileges, implementation of a ban from video visitations, and/or the issuance of disciplinary charges.

Additionally, behavior of a more serious nature that also has potential connection to the regular visit program may lead to bans within that program as well.

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In-Person Visiting

It is necessary for all visitors to review this information prior to scheduling an in-person visit. .

Visitors must review the quarantine tables below to ensure the facility or housing unit of their loved one is not currently under outbreak status or housed in a COVID quarantined/isolation unit. Previously scheduled visits will be cancelled if a facility or an individual housing unit goes on outbreak/quarantine. Visitors must routinely monitor this site. They will also receive notification from ViaPath that any scheduled visits have been cancelled.  

In-Person Scheduling Procedure

All visitors are required to schedule visits using the ViaPath Scheduler. Only persons cleared and approved by the Michigan Department of Corrections will be permitted to participate in an in-person visit. Approved visitors can schedule a visit  here . Visitors are required to schedule their visit at least 48 HOURS in advance of the scheduled visit, but not more than 7 DAYS prior to the visit. 

The visits will be limited to two hours. 

A maximum of FIVE visitors may visit a prisoner at one time. 

VISITORS MAY SCHEDULE UP TO TWO SEPARATE VISITS ON THE SAME DAY WITH THE SAME PRISONER, BASED ON AVAILABILITY WHEN USING THE VIAPATH SCHEDULER.

During Your Visit

Food items sold from vending machines must immediately be removed from the manufacturer’s packaging and the food item immediately placed on a paper plate. The manufacturer’s packaging shall be disposed of prior to the visitor’s return to his/her seat. Food items must remain uncovered until consumed.

Bathroom breaks shall be permitted during visits, however, time used for the bathroom counts towards the two-hour duration of the visit.

Visitors and prisoners can take photos together. An embrace including a kiss is permitted while a picture is being taken. 

Quarantine Tables

Please keep in mind that a single housing unit may be under quarantine while the rest of the facility is not. It is critical that you review both facility-wide and housing unit quarantines prior to traveling for your scheduled visit. The listing will change often. Prisoners housed in the following facilities and/or housing units will not be allowed in-person visits at this time:

Facilities Currently Under Full Quarantine

Individual housing units currently under quarantine, additional links.

Visiting Standards - English Version

Estándares de visitas - Version Española

Visiting Application

Video Visitation Standards - English Version

Video Visitando Estándares - Version Española

Updated: 06/23/2023

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Prison and Jail Visitation   Tweet this

Incarceration separates families — and not only by putting people behind bars. All too often, prisons, jails, and private companies impose policies that make it needlessly difficult to maintain family ties.

Our research has revealed that when families must travel great distances to visit loved ones in prison, visitation declines . We’ve also uncovered how sheriffs and private companies use video calling to eliminate human contact and have worked to protect in-person jail visits nationwide. Meanwhile, prisons continue to find other ways of making visitation difficult and degrading, such as strip-searching visitors and curtailing visiting hours .

Screening Out Family Time: The for-profit video visitation industry in prisons and jails by Bernadette Rabuy and Peter Wagner January 2015

Report ( Print/PDF version ) Executive Summary Exhibits Press Release

Separation by Bars and Miles: Visitation in state prisons by Bernadette Rabuy and Dan Kopf October 2015

Report Press Release Leer en español

Correctional video calling contracts

We've made our collection of correctional video calling contract documents public. Search them to see what companies are profting in your area.

Major victories

• In April 2018, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed S.2371 into law , which requires Massachusetts jails to provide people in jails with at least two in-person visits per week and prohibits jails from replacing in-person visits with video calls.
• In June 2017, California Governor Jerry Brown signed the 2017-2018 California budget, including AB 103 , which statutorily requires jails to provide in-person visits rather than video calls. AB 103 permits jails that had already replaced in-person visits with video calls as of January 1, 2017 to continue to ban in-person visits. But these jails must provide all facility-based video calls and the first hour of remote video calls to visitors at no cost. The Board of State and Community Corrections’ regulations , approved shortly after AB 103, also exempt jails that, as of January 1, 2017, had submitted initial architectural planning to the Board of State and Community Corrections that did not include in-person visitation space. Governor Brown previously vetoed SB 1157 , which would have prohibited jails from using video calls to replace in-person visits, stating that SB 1157 didn’t provide enough flexibility.
• In August 2016, the Illinois legislature approved HB2738 : Protect Prison Visits Bill, which prohibits Illinois prisons from replacing in-person visits with video calls and charging high rates for video calls.
• In August 2016, the American Correctional Association unanimously ratified a policy declaring that emerging technologies like video calls should only be used to supplement existing in-person visitation.
• In May 2015, Securus announced it would no longer explicitly require county jails and state prisons to replace in-person visits with video calls in its contracts with correctional facilities.
• Travis County, TX legislators voted to bring back in-person visits in September 2015. In-person visits became available again in April 2016. According to this document , it likely cost around $1.2 million to bring back in-person visits.
• TX legislation that clarifies that the Texas Commission on Jail Standard’s requirement of at least two visits per week refers to in-person visits , not video calls, went into effect in September 2015, but included a grandfathering clause for counties that incurred significant expense replacing in-person visits with video calls.
• Starting June 22, 2015 , Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser restored in-person visits for those who have (1) been incarcerated for at least 60 days and (2) not incurred a sustained disciplinary violation for at least 30 days .
• In January 2015, prompted by Street Roots' reporting, the Multnomah County, Oregon Sheriff reversed his ban on in-person visits in Portland jails.
• In November 2014, Dallas County rejected a Securus video call contract that would have required the County to ban on in-person visits. One county commissioner even mentioned that the issue received more attention than any other issue ever had.

See more of our victories

Filter to show: Most recent Favorites Video calls Importance of visits Prison visits Jail visits Show all

• A best practices guide for counties writing video calling RFPs , February 4, 2020
• When jails replace in-person visits with video, what happens when the technology fails? , by Sarah Watson, June 18, 2019
• Who's really bringing contraband into jails? Our 2018 survey confirms it's staff, not visitors , by Jorge Renaud, December 6, 2018
• Every Second: The Impact of the Incarceration Crisis on America's Families , FWD.us, December 2018
• Comment letter: Florida's Department of Corrections should not reduce visitation , by Lucius Couloute, May 31, 2018
• Our blog post highlighting the report's key findings
• A few thoughts on legislative compromises , by Bernadette Rabuy, November 20, 2017
• Durham County Detention Facility Video Visitation Survey Results , Durham County Sheriff’s Office, November 2017
• Comment letter: Maine’s Department of Corrections should not allow correctional facilities to eliminate in-person visitation. , by Lucius Couloute, September 7, 2017
• Closing the Distance: The Impact of Video Visits in Washington State Prisons , Vera Institute of Justice, August 2017
• For families of incarcerated dads, Father’s day comes at a premium , by Lucius Couloute, June 13, 2017
• Phone Tag to Computer Hack: Securus puts privacy at risk , by Stephen Raher, April 24, 2017
• Travis County, Texas: A Case Study on Video Visitation , by Emily Widra, April 18, 2016
• Seeing eye to eye: understanding the limits of video visitation , by Emily Widra, April 11, 2016
• A New Role for Technology? Implementing Video Visitation in Prison , Vera Institute of Justice, March 2016
• Video Visiting in Corrections: Benefits, Limitations, and Implementation Considerations , by The Osborne Association, National Institute of Corrections, December 2014
• Video Visitation: How Private Companies Push for Visits by Video and Families Pay the Price , by Jorge Renaud, Grassroots Leadership and Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, October 2014
• Breaches in the Wall: Imprisonment, Social Support, and Recidivism , by Joshua C. Cochran, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency , March 2014
• Prison Visitation Policies: A Fifty State Survey , by Chesa Boudin, Trevor Stutz, and Aaron Littman, Yale Law & Policy Review , 2013
• The Double Edged Sword of Prison Video Visitation: Claiming to Keep Families Together While Furthering the Aims of the Prison Industrial Complex , by Patrice A. Fulcher, Florida A&M University Law Review , Fall 2013
• Video Visits for Children Whose Parents Are Incarcerated: In Whose Best Interest? , by Susan D. Phillips, Ph.D., The Sentencing Project, October 2012
• The ties that bind or the ties that break: Examining the relationship between visitation and prisoner misconduct , by Joshua C. Cochran, Journal of Criminal Justice , September 2012
• An Overview of Research Findings in the Visitation, Offender Behavior Connection , by Gary C. Mohr, Director, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, 2012
• The Effects of Prison Visitation on Offender Recidivism , Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2011
• Connecting Children with Incarcerated Parents , Child Protection Best Practices Bulletin, 2011
• Prison Visitation and Recidivism , by Daniel P. Mears, Joshua C. Cochran, Sonja E. Siennick, and William D. Bales, Justice Quarterly , June 2011
• Prison Video Conferencing , by Patrick Doyle, Camille Fordy, and Aaron Haight, The University of Vermont James M. Jeffords Center’s Vermont Legislative Research Service, May 2011

Federal Communications Commission briefings

For years, we have been encouraging the Federal Communications Commission to bring fairness to the predatory video call industry and answering the FCC's questions about the technology and industry:

• Lemhi County, Idaho TurnKey Contract
• News articles about video calls in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
• News article about video calls in Clark County, Nevada
• Editorials criticizing video calls
• Screening Out Family Time : The for-profit video visitation industry in prisons and jails
• New York Times October 2015 editorial
• Solano County, California iWebVisit.com Contract
• Arkansas DOC to implement Securus video calls
• Securus ends its ban on in-person visits, shifts responsibility to sheriffs
• Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article about Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
• Racine County, Wisconsin Securus Contract and Screenshot of Current Price
• Solano County, California iWebVisit.com Video Calls Contract
• The demographics of computer ownership and high-speed internet access
• Video calls editorials and news articles
• Selected news stories about video calls
• Maricopa County, Arizona video calls contract
• Shawnee County, Kansas video calls contract

Show older briefings

News and editorials

Filter to show: Favorites Most Recent Video calls Importance of visits Prison visits Jail visits Audio Video Blog posts Press coverage Editorials Show all

• As Utah jails embrace video technology, in-person visits are being eliminated , by Jessica Miller, The Salt Lake Tribune , November 2, 2019
• The benefits - and potential steep costs - of adding video visitation to Spokane County's jail facilities , by Josh Kelety, The Pacific Northwest Inlander , September 19, 2019
• Behind Bars, and Pixels Too: How Technology Makes Jail Even Bleaker , by Wendy MacNaughton, The New York Times , August 29, 2019
• Video visitation at county jail praised by staff, decried by users , by Tracy Neal, The Arkansas Democrat Gazette , June 10, 2019
• How Private Equity Is Turning Public Prisons into Big Profits , by Tim Requarth, The Nation , April 30, 2019
• How jails are replacing visits with video , by Teresa Mathews, The Appeal , April 22, 2019
• The Ada County Jail routinely makes half a million dollars annually on inmate phone calls , by Tommy Simmons, Idaho Press , April 20, 2019
• More jails replace in-person visits with awful video chat products , by Timothy Lee, Ars Technica , April 8, 2019
• Newton County Jail video-only visitation policy draws praise, criticism , by Rayna Karst, The Joplin Globe , April 6, 2019
• Sheriff to temporarily restore in-person visits at Mecklenburg County Jail for the holidays , by WBTV and Dedrick Russell, WBTV (Charlotte, NC), December 21, 2018
• Offering a window into normalcy, community , by Anna Schuessler, San Mateo Daily Journal , November 29, 2018
• Washington State: Jail Phone Rates Increase as Video Replaces In-Person Visits , by Steve Horn and Iris Wagner, Prison Legal News , October 2018
• McHenry County Jail now offering free on-site visitations , by Katie Smith, The Northwest Herald , August 15, 2018
• Arkansas jail's pay-to-visit plan panned , by Tracy Neal, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette , July 30, 2018
• Florida prisons add for-profit services, consider visitation cuts , by Ben Conarck, The Orlando Sentinel , June 10, 2018
• Pima County jail's visitation policies create hardship, some Tucson families say , by Patty Machelor, The Arizona Daily Star , May 26, 2018
• Editorial: Video visits have a role, but should not replace in-person visits in Maine jails , by Editorial Board, Bangor Daily News, May 16, 2018
• Jails are replacing visits with video calls—inmates and families hate it , by Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica , May 14, 2018
• Don’t cut visits to prisoners , by Editorial Board, The Florida Times-Union, April 19, 2018
• New Massachusetts reform package aims to protect in-person jail visits , by Lucius Couloute, March 26, 2018
• Senate bill targets recalcitrant FCC: revitalizes federal fight to lower the cost of calling home , by Aleks Kajstura, March 12, 2018
• Growing momentum in the fight to preserve in-person visits (New Jersey legislation and California juvenile facility regulations), by Lucius Couloute, March 5, 2018
• Coalition calls for end to ban on in-person Knox County jail vsiits , by Bridgette Bjorlo, WATE , January 29, 2018
• The Guardian and Colorado Public Radio raise urgent questions about the video calling industry , by Lucius Couloute, December 14, 2017
• The end of American prison visits: jails end face-to-face contact – and families suffer , by Shannon Sims, The Guardian, December 09, 2017
• Denver Jails Reconsider In-Person Visitation After Watchdog Says Video-Only Is 'Inhumane' , by Michael Sakas, Colorado Public Radio, December 7, 2017
• Despite Suicides, Jails Replace In-Person Visitation With Video Screens , by Mike Ludwig, TruthOut, October 13, 2017

• Video Conferencing Enthusiasts Slam Replacement of In-Person Jail Visits with Video Calls , by Bernadette Rabuy, September 26, 2017
• California legislators continue fighting for in-person jail visits , by Bernadette Rabuy, September 6, 2017
• Video Chat Price-Gouging Costs Inmates More Than Money , by Issie Lapowsky, Wired, August 31, 2017
• Voices that matter: Incarcerated people on video calling , by Lucius Couloute, August 9, 2017

• Senator Tammy Duckworth introduces the Video Visitation and Inmate Calling in Prisons Act of 2017 , by Lucius Couloute, July 24, 2017
• Vice News Tonight examines the exploitive video visitation industry , by Lucius Couloute, June 28, 2017

• In their own words: The value of in-person visitation to families , by Emily Widra, May 9, 2017
• American Correctional Association says that video visitation should not replace in-person visits , by Lucius Couloute, April 24, 2017
• In-person visits return to jails in Travis County, Texas! , by Alison Walsh, April 19, 2016
• Protecting incarcerated people and their loved ones from the video visitation industry (Illinois and New Jersey legislation), by Lucius Couloute, April 10, 2017
• NJ jails doing away with family visitation. Critics argue why that’s a bad idea , by David Matthau, NJ101.5 , April 7, 2017
• Groups Complain Video Visitation In Jail Often Means End To In-Person Visits , by Laura Tsutsui, Valley Public Radio (NPR for Central California), April 4, 2017
• Editorial: A Bad Idea to Cut Prison Visitations , by The Editorial Board, The New York Times , March 28, 2017
• Support for in-person visitation continues to grow (New Jersey and federal legislation), by Bernadette Rabuy, February 1, 2017
• Our View: Video visits won’t solve major challenges at Maine’s county jails , by Editorial Board, Portland Press Herald , January 13, 2017
• Editorial: Videoconferencing is no replacement for in-person visits for jail inmates , Bangor Daily News , January 13, 2017
• Prison visits crucial, but miles and money separate families , The Times-Picayune , January 10, 2017
• In Maine county jails, video visits deny vital connection between inmates and their families , by Joelle Bouchard, Bangor Daily News , January 9, 2017
• Durham County jail moving to video visitation for inmates , by Virginia Bridges, The News & Observer , January 6, 2017
• New Jersey legislation aims to protect in-person visits from video visitation , by Bernadette Rabuy, December 22, 2016
• With fate of program uncertain, BCSO defends video visitations (Bexar County, Texas), KSAT , December 22, 2016

• Worlds Apart , by Sarah Beller, Real Life , November 14, 2016

• No Way to Call Home: Incarcerated Deaf People Are Locked in a Prison Inside a Prison , by Mike Ludwig, Truthout , August 22, 2016
• Banning real jail visits punishes inmates' families , by Lynn Wu, The Sacramento Bee , August 15, 2016
• Jail Video Visitation Falls Short on Usage, Revenue Expectations , by Selah Maya Zighelboim, Texas Observer , June 1, 2016
• Punishing Families: How the Prison Communication Industry Weakens Family Ties , by Emily Pollom, Truthout , May 11, 2016
• Raphael Sperry: San Mateo's new jail has no place to visit inmates , by Raphael Sperry, The Mercury News , May 6, 2016
• The End of Prison Visitation , by Jack Smith IV, Mic , May 5, 2016
• Sheriff to discontinue video visitation at jail , by Vershal Hogan, The Natchez Democrat , April 22, 2016
• Prison visits helped prepare me for life after release. Why are they under threat? , by Chandra Bozelko, The Guardian , April 20, 2016
• How Prison Phone Calls Became A Tax On The Poor , by Eric Markowtiz, International Business Times , March 30, 2016
• As one jail's video visitation technology breaks, a larger battle continues , by Max Lewontin, The Christian Science Monitor , March 16, 2016
• Maine State Prison Ending Most Night Visitation, Requiring Visitors to Call Ahead , by Susan Sharon, MPBN News , February 9, 2016
• Editorial: Video prison visits — done right , by YDR Editorial Board, York Daily Record , January 29, 2016

• In-person family visits will return to Austin, Texas , by Bernadette Rabuy, September 30, 2015
• Ruling on county's video-based jail visits questioned , by Sean Collins Walsh, Austin American-Statesman , September 21, 2015
• New law forces two counties — Wood and Hays — to restart in-person jail visits , by Tom Benning, The Dallas Morning News , September 9, 2015
• Legislation protecting in-person county jail visits goes into effect , Grassroots Leadership, September 1, 2015

• Westmoreland County libraries help inmates keep in touch with loved ones , by Renatta Signorini, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review , August 11, 2015
• Screen to Screen: Bexar County Jail , by Mark Reagan, San Antonio Current , July 28, 2015
• Inside the Shadowy Business of Prison Phone Calls , by Eric Markowitz, International Business Times , July 2, 2015
• D.C. Jail is bringing back intimacy – in a way , by Abigail Hauslohner, The Washington Post , June 24, 2015
• County Jail Visitation Bill Filed Without Signature, Becomes Law , Grassroots Leadership, June 18, 2015
• Video jail visits / Technology has advantages, but keep the in-person option , by Press of Atlantic City Editorial Board, Press of Atlantic City , June 4, 2015
• Use of Video Visits for Inmates Grows, Along With Concerns , by Juan A. Lozano of The Associated Press, The Detroit News , May 25, 2015
• Lawmakers Could Slow Spread of Video-Only Jail Visitations , by Kelsey Jukam, Texas Observer , May 13, 2015
• Securus ends its ban on in-person visits, shifts responsibility to sheriffs , by Bernadette Rabuy, May 6, 2015
• Prison-Tech Giant Securus Will No Longer Require Jails To Remove In-Person Visits , by Eric Markowitz, International Business Times , May 6, 2015
• Why Prisons Should Have Video Visitation , by Kevin A. Wright, Slate , May 6, 2015
• Are video visits a smart innovation for jails — or yet another way to exploit families? , by Hanna Kozlowska, Quartz , April 30, 2015
• Phone rates for prison inmates exploitative, counterproductive , Editorial Board, The Boston Globe , April 28, 2015
• Expensive 'Prison Skype' Is Squeezing Out In-Person Visitation , by Matt Stroud and Joshua Brustein, Bloomberg Businessweek , April 27, 2015

• Arkansas DOC to implement Securus video visits , by Bernadette Rabuy, April 15, 2015

• Video Chats Are Replacing In-Person Jail Visits, While One Tech Company Profits (Texas), by Eric Markowitz, International Business Times , April 8, 2015
• 'Video visitation' expanding in Arkansas jails , by David Koon, Arkansas Times , April 2, 2015
• Video visitation threatens to put more distance between inmates and family , by Tom Bartlett, Al Jazeera America , March 9, 2015
• As Jail Visits Go High-Tech, Isolation Grows , by Lisa Riordan Seville, NBC News , February 27, 2015
• Video chats replace in-person visits in US jails and prisons , by Tim Gaynor, Al Jazeera America , February 24, 2015
• Want to visit an inmate? Increasingly, you'll have to log on , by Hamed Aleaziz, San Francisco Chronicle , February 22, 2015
• New videos: Video visitation is not "just like Skype" , by Bernadette Rabuy, February 18, 2015
• Can technology and prisons get along? , by Kevin Roose and Pendarvis Harshaw, Fusion , February 5, 2015
• Multnomah County Sheriff reverses ban on in-person visits in Portland jails , by Bernadette Rabuy, January 29, 2015

• Sheriff Dan Staton Won't Do Away With Face-To-Face Inmate Visits, After All , by Dirk Vanderhart, Portland Mercury , January 27, 2015

• County should preserve in-person visitation , by Street Roots editorial board, Street Roots , January 23, 2015

• In-person visitation should be an option at Travis, Bastrop jails , by Editorial Board, Austin American-Statesman , November 13, 2014
• Dallas County approves video visitation contract , by Peter Wagner, November 11, 2014
• Editorial: A price too high for calls from jail , by Editorial Board, The Dallas Morning News , November 10, 2014
• Tarrant County sheriff speaks to for-profit companies taking advantage of inmates, families (Texas), by Dee Anderson, Star Telegram , September 27, 2014
• Editorial: Idea blackout , by Editorial Board, Houston Chronicle , September 15, 2014
• Dallas County rejects Securus video visitation contract! , by Peter Wagner, September 9, 2014

• Video Visitation a Growing Trend, but Concerns Remain , Prison Legal News , March 2014

• D.C. prisoners deserve better than flawed video-only visitation policy , by Editorial Board, The Washington Post , August 12, 2013
• Some Jails Turning to Video Visitation Only , by Matthew Clarke, Prison Legal News , July 2013
• Prisoners and Families Connect with Video Visitation, for a Price , Prison Legal News , September 2012

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Visitation Information

How to schedule visits using vsa.

View the Visitation Scheduling Application user instructions.

Schedule a Visit

Log on to VSA to schedule in-person visits at Institutions.

Free Bus Transportation

Approved visitors can register for FREE bus trips to designated CDCR institutions.

CDCR recognizes visiting is an important way to maintain family and community ties.

At the same time, our first priority is the health and safety of those who live in and work in our facilities. For the latest information and updates that may impact visitation services and guidelines become familiar with this web page.

Have Questions?

Getting familiar with the visitation process is a good place to start and may answer your questions. Frequently asked questions, visiting Sergeant/Lieutenant telephone numbers and other visiting resources are available on our Get Help page.

Family & Friends Services

Family and friends can play a vital role in helping incarcerated people turn their lives around. Learn about contacting an incarcerated person, sending money, sending packages and more.

How Prisons in Each State Are Restricting Visits Due to Coronavirus

As COVID-19 began spreading in 2020, prison facilities across the country suspended visits from family and lawyers. Over the course of the pandemic, states have eased and tightened those restrictions. We’re rounding up the changes as they occur.

Have you tried to visit a person in prison or jail recently? Tell us about it here.

Regular visits suspended, but legal visits allowed

Personal visits have been suspended since March 13, 2020, but legal visits are allowed.

Learn more from Hawaii →

Personal visits are suspended in all of Vermont's prisons due to active cases among staff or the incarcerated after they had been reopened in July of 2021. They were initially suspended in response to coronavirus on March 13, 2020, but legal visits were allowed.

Learn more from Vermont →

Personal visits have been suspended since March 11, 2020, but legal visits are allowed.

Learn more from West Virginia →

Personal visits were suspended March 18, 2020. Lawyers are allowed access, but may not have physical contact with prisoners and can only meet through phone or video calls. In the summer of 2021, Wyoming resumed in-person visits only to halt them again amid coronavirus outbreaks.

Learn more from Wyoming →

Visits resumed with limitations

On Oct. 9, 2021, Alabama began to reopen a small group of prisons for limited visitation, and the rest . All visitation had been suspended starting March 13, 2020.

Learn more from Alabama →

On April 30, 2021, Alaska reopened most of its prisons to visitors with some restricitons, including mandating the wearing of masks. All visitation, including legal visits, were suspended on March 13, 2020. On March 17, 2021, in-person visits with attorneys resumed.

Learn more from Alaska →

On June 19, 2021, Arizona began to reopen its prisons to visitation for vaccinated prisoners. Personal visits had been suspended since March 13, 2020, and legal visits were stopped as well.

Learn more from Arizona →

All visitation, including legal visits, was suspended on March 16, 2020. In December, Arkansas reopened for some visits but closed again within a few weeks. On March 6, 2021, limited visits resumed in four facilities and later expanded in June to all prisons.

Learn more from Arkansas →

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation resumed in-person visits on April 10, 2021. Wardens of individual prisons could determine whether to reopen based on the number of active caess at their faciliites. Normal visitation was first suspended on March 13, 2020, and legal visits on April 7.

Learn more from California →

On May 4, 2021, Colorado began to allow limited visitation at some of its facilities and expanded it across the system later in the month. In October 2021, the state began to require visitors to show proof of vaccination before being allowed to enter the prisons. Personal visits were initially suspended on March 11, 2020. Legal visits are allowed, but they will be non-contact visits.

Learn more from Colorado →

Personal visits were suspended on March 13, 2020. Legal visits were allowed, but officials strongly recommend communicating by phone instead. On Oct. 15, 2020, Connecticut began to resume limited, pre-scheduled, non-contact visits .

Learn more from Connecticut →

Personal visits resumed on March 16, 2021, with restrictions . Visitation was first suspended on March 12, 2020. Visits resumed briefly in late June and then again in early September, but in November, they were stopped amid rapidly increasing spread of the coronavirus in the state.

Learn more from Delaware →

Washington, D.C., sends its prisoners to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, where all visitation, including legal visits, were suspended on March 13, 2020, though attorneys could be approved for an in-person visit on a case-by-case basis. On Oct. 3, some federal prisons began to reopen for non-contact personal visits, with restrictions .

Learn more from District of Columbia →

Personal visits were suspended on March 11, 2020, but legal visits were allowed. On Oct. 2, Florida began to allow limited visits with some restrictions .

Learn more from Florida →

All visitation, including legal visits, were suspended on March 13, 2020. On April 3, 2021, personal visits resumed with restricitons, such as one visit per prisoner every other month.

Learn more from Georgia →

On June 12, 2021, personal visits began to resume at some Idaho prisons. They had been suspended since March 13, 2020. Legal visits were allowed, but officials strongly recommended communicating by phone instead.

Learn more from Idaho →

On April 12, 2021, limited visitation resumed at one prison in Illinois and expanded to more than 10 additional facillities a week later. Personal visits were initially suspended on March 14, 2020.

Learn more from Illinois →

Non-contact personal visits began again on Aug. 30, 2021 after being suspended since March 11, 2020. Legal visits had been allowed, but attorneys were screened upon arrival for contact visits.

Learn more from Indiana →

Personal visits resumed on July 10, 2021 after being suspended since March 14, 2020. Legal visits were allowed during the suspension.

Learn more from Iowa →

Personal visits resumed in Kansas on April 18, 2021 with limitations, after being suspended since March 12, 2020. Legal visits had been allowed, but officials strongly recommend communicating by phone or in writing.

Learn more from Kansas →

Limited personal visits began again on June 21, 2021, after being suspended since March 14, 2020. Legal visits had been allowed, but non-contact visits were strongly encouraged and attorneys could be screened upon arrival.

Learn more from Kentucky →

Louisiana began to allow personal visits in its prisons on Oct. 18, 2021. They had been halted on on July 27, 2021 after reopening in March, one year after they were originally suspended due to the coronavirus on March 12, 2020.

Learn more from Louisiana →

Personal visits were suspended on March 12, 2020, but legal visits were allowed. Limited, non-contact visits resumed in several Maine prisons on March 18, 2021. Visits had begun in July of 2020 but were suspended again on Nov. 1.

Learn more from Maine →

Maryland's Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services began to permit personal visits on July 19, 2021. Personal visits had been suspended since March 12, 2020, but legal visits were allowed.

Learn more from Maryland →

On May 1, 2021, Massachusetts began to reopen visitation at three prisons , with more added in the following days. Personal visits were first suspended on March 13, 2020 and resumed with limits in July. On Nov. 14, 2020, the prisons again halted visits amid rising coronavirus cases. Legal visits were allowed.

Learn more from Massachusetts →

Personal visits were suspended on March 13, 2020, but legal visits were allowed. On March 26, 2021, limited personal visits resumed at some Michigan prisons that were not in quarantine .

Learn more from Michigan →

Personal visits were suspended on March 12, 2020. Legal visits were allowed, but they will not be face-to-face visits. On July 22, 2020, the state resumed limited personal visits at prisons that did not had two positive cases in the previous two weeks. On Nov. 30, the last prison was closed to visitors due to a rise in cases. On Jan. 6, 2021, visitation resumed at some Minnesota prisons.

Learn more from Minnesota →

Mississippi reopened its prisons for personal visits on Nov. 1, 2021. They had been barred originally on March 12, 2020 and had resumed in May of 2021, only to have them stopped again in late July 2021 due to rising concerns about the delta variant of the coronavirus.

Learn more from Mississippi →

Personal visits for prisoners who are fully vaccinated resumed on June 1, 2021. They had initially been suspended March 12, 2020, but legal visits were allowed. On June 25, 2020, visits resumed with some precautions , and as many as five prisons at a time reopened through the summer and fall. On Dec. 30, 2020, visits were suspended in all prisons while the rollout of vaccines began.

Learn more from Missouri →

On April 24, 2021, Montana began to reopen its prisons with some restrictions, including requiring visitors to wear masks. Personal and legal visits were suspended on March 13, 2020.

Learn more from Montana →

On Dec. 15, 2020, limited visitation resumed at five prisons and at all facilities on Jan. 6. Personal visits were first suspended on March 16, 2020. Legal visits were allowed, but attorneys were screened on entry. On July 15, a limited number of non-contact visits began for those who pre-registered, but visits were again suspended on Aug. 7 .

Learn more from Nebraska →

On May 1, 2021, Nevada reopened its prisons to visitors , with limits on capacity. All visitation, including legal visits, had been suspended since March 7, 2020.

Learn more from Nevada →

All visitation, including legal visits, were suspended on March 16, 2020. Starting on Aug. 10, limited personal and attorney visits resumed .

Learn more from New Hampshire →

New Jersey began to allow limited outdoor visits on May 1, 2021 and later expanded to indoor visits. Personal visits were originally suspended on March 10, 2020, but legal visits were allowed. On Oct. 9, 2020, outdoor visits resumed but were then suspended again on Dec. 8.

Learn more from New Jersey →

On June 14, 2021, New Mexico reopened limited, non-contact visits for vaccinated prisoners and vaccinated visitors. All visits, including contact, non-contact and legal visits had been suspended since March 16, 2020.

Learn more from New Mexico →

On April 28, 2021, New York's Department of Corrections and Community Supervision resumed non-contact personal visits, starting with maximum security prisons. Visitation was originally suspended on March 14, 2020 though legal visits were allowed. On Aug. 6, 2020 visitation began to resume , but on Dec. 30, personal visits were stopped again at all prisons statewide.

Learn more from New York →

Personal visits were suspended on March 13, 2020, but legal and pastoral visits were allowed. On Oct. 1, North Carolina began to allow visits with significant restrictions .

Learn more from North Carolina →

All contact visits were suspended on March 12, 2020. Visits began in June of 2020 and were later suspended in July. On March 29, 2021, visits resumed.

Learn more from North Dakota →

Personal visits were suspended on March 12, 2020. Legal visits were allowed, and attorneys were screened on entry. On July 8, outdoor visits began at some prisons. By Oct. 30, however, all of the prisons were closed to visitors again. On Feb. 16, 2021 visitation resumed at some facilities.

Learn more from Ohio →

Visitation was suspended on March 13, 2020, and legal visits were allowed. Limited visitation resumed in June 5, but was later cancelled again amid another wave of infections in the fall. Oklahoma reopened for visits with restrictions on April 1, 2021.

Learn more from Oklahoma →

All visitation, including legal visits, were suspended on March 12, 2020. On March 29, 2021, Oregon began a pilot program allowing limited, non-contact visits at one prison but later halted the program on April 28, 2021. The program began again on June 14, 2021 and expanded to other facilities.

Learn more from Oregon →

Personal visits began to resume in Pennsylvania prisons on May 22, 2021. They had been suspended since March 13, 2020, but legal visits are allowed. Legal visitation was suspended for one day, March 13.

Learn more from Pennsylvania →

On April 14, 2021, Rhode Island's Department of Corrections resumed non-contact visits with some restrictions . All visitation, including legal visits, had been suspended on March 11, 2020. On Aug. 12, visits with attorneys resumed.

Learn more from Rhode Island →

Personal visits began to resume for vaccinated prisoners at some South Carolina prisons on June 19, 2021. They had been suspended since March 13, 2020, but legal visits were allowed.

Learn more from South Carolina →

Visitation was suspended since March 12, 2020, but legal visits were allowed. On March 8, 2021, non-contact personal visits started again , with new restrictions and health guidelines.

Learn more from South Dakota →

On April 10, 2021, the Tennessee Department of Correction reopened for limited visitation . Personal visits were suspended on March 12, 2020, as were legal visits, though wardens could grant special requests for in-person access. On Oct. 3, 2020, Tennessee reopened three prisons for limited visitation and later a fourth. On Dec. 1, 2020, visitation at all prisons was again suspended .

Learn more from Tennessee →

Personal visits were suspended on March 13, 2020. On March 15, 2021, personal visits began again, with restrictions . Visitors must take a rapid coronavirus test before being admitted.

Learn more from Texas →

Personal visits began again on June 18, 2021. They had been suspended since March 12, 2020. Non-contact legal visits were allowed.

Learn more from Utah →

On Sept. 1, 2021, Virginia began to open some of its prisons to outside visitors, starting with nine facilities and later expanding to more. Personal visits had been suspended since March 13, 2020, as were attorney visits, which resumed July 15, 2021.

Learn more from Virginia →

Non-contact personal visits resumed on May 9, 2021. They had been suspended since March 12, 2020, but legal visits were allowed.

Learn more from Washington →

On July 6, 2021, Wisconsin resumed personal visits , which had been suspended since March 13, 2020.

Learn more from Wisconsin →

All visitation, including legal visits, were suspended by the Federal Bureau of Prisons on March 13, 2020, though attorneys could be approved for an in-person visit on a case-by-case basis. On Oct. 3, some federal prisons began to reopen for non-contact personal visits, with restrictions .

Learn more from Federal →

This is produced in partnership with the Associated Press.

Sources State prison systems

Graphic by Katie Park and Tom Meagher

Reporting by Cary Aspinwall, Keri Blakinger, Jake Bleiberg, Andrew R. Calderón, Maurice Chammah, Andrew DeMillo, Eli Hager, Jamiles Lartey, Claudia Lauer, Nicole Lewis, Weihua Li, Humera Lodhi, Colleen Long, Tom Meagher, Joseph Neff, Alysia Santo, Beth Schwartzapfel, Damini Sharma, Colleen Slevin, Christie Thompson, Abbie VanSickle and Andrew Welsh-Huggins

Additional development by Gabe Isman

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What is Reciprocity?

Nonimmigrant visa applicants from certain countries*/areas of authority may be required to pay a visa issuance fee after their application is approved. These fees are based on the principle of  reciprocity:  when a foreign government imposes fees on U.S. citizens for certain types of visas, the United States will impose a reciprocal fee on citizens of that country*/area of authority for similar types of visas. 

How Do I Find Out if I Have to Pay a Reciprocity Fee?

To view the Reciprocity Page for your country* of nationality, select your country*/area of authority from the list of countries on the left side menu. On the Reciprocity Page, select the Visa Classifications tab from the column on the left

Select the type of visa you have applied for, such as a B-1/B-2 (temporary visa for business or pleasure), F-1 (student visa), etc. from the drop down menu: 

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What does this table tell me?

Visa Classification:  The type of nonimmigrant visa you are applying for.

Fee:  The reciprocity fee, also known as the visa issuance fee, you must pay. This fee is in addition to the nonimmigrant visa application fee (MRV fee).

Number of Entries:  The number of times you may seek entry into the United States with that visa. “M” means multiple times. If there is a number, such as “One”, you may apply for entry one time with that visa.

Validity Period:  This generally means the visa is valid, or can be used, from the date it is issued until the date it expires, for travel with that visa. If your Validity Period is 60 months, your visa will be valid for 60 months from the date it is issued.

What is the Difference between the Reciprocity Fee and the Nonimmigrant Visa Application Fee?

The nonimmigrant visa application fee, also known as the MRV fee, is a nonrefundable fee paid by most applicants for U.S. visas, whether the application is approved or refused. It covers the costs associated with processing a U.S. visa application. Current nonimmigrant visa application fees can be found on our  Fees – Visa Services  webpage. (This webpage also lists the few visa categories for which application fees are not required.)

While most visa applicants are required to pay the visa application fee, the Reciprocity Fee is only charged to an approved nonimmigrant visa applicant after the visa interview.

Immigrant Visa Interviews

For Immigrant Visa interviews each U.S. Embassy or Consulate has specific instructions for their applicants. Please click here to select your designated interview location.

Civil Documents and How to Use Them

Immigrant visa applicants are required to submit certain civil documents as part of their visa application, such as birth certificates and police records. (Nonimmigrant visa applicants do not routinely need to submit civil documents as part of their visa application.) Each Reciprocity Page will provide detailed information about how to obtain these civil documents from the country* you have selected, as well as the location of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you can apply for your visa. For more information about civil document requirements for immigrant visa cases, see  civil documents .

To view the Civil Documents for your country* of nationality, select your country*/area of authority from the drop-down menu below. On the Reciprocity Page, click on the tabs on the left to see the categories of Civil Documents and how to obtain them.

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* With respect to all references to “country” or “countries” on this page, it should be noted that the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, Pub. L. No. 96-8, Section 4(b)(1), provides that “[w]whenever the laws of the United States refer or relate to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply with respect to Taiwan.” 22 U.S.C. § 3303(b) (1). Accordingly, all references to “country” or “countries” in the Visa Waiver Program authorizing legislation, Section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1187, are read to include Taiwan. This is consistent with the United States’ one-China policy, under which the United States has maintained unofficial relations with Taiwan since 1979.

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Discover this medieval royal palace that became a revolutionary court and Marie-Antoinette's prison.

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The royal palace and its admirable gothic architecture.

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Prison life during the Revolution

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Marie-Antoinette and the Expiatory Chapel

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