Iowa Admin. Code r. 201-20.3

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024

Rule 201-20.3 - Visits to incarcerated individuals

Visiting is a privilege which allows incarcerated individuals to maintain and strengthen relationships with family members and friends. Though visits are encouraged, institutions' space, schedules, personnel constraints, treatment considerations, or other safety and security issues of the institutions and their operations may result in limiting the number and length of visits. Visitation is additionally governed by the provisions of department of corrections policy OP-MTV-04.

(1)Definitions.

"Application" means a written application identifying the visitor and the visitor's relationship to the incarcerated individual.

"Background investigation" means the process by which central visiting authority staff verify the accuracy of a visitor's application for any reason.

"Central visiting authority" or "CVA" means the department office that conducts the visitor application approval process.

"Extended family" means the incarcerated individual's aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, great-grandparents, great-grandchildren, and in-laws.

"Group" means a family unit (e.g., aunt, uncle and minor nieces and nephews) residing at the same address.

"Immediate family" means an incarcerated individual's spouse, mother, father, sister, brother, child, grandparent, grandchild (when minors become adults, they will be required to complete the formal visiting application process), established legal guardian or other who acted in place of parents, and step-or half-relation if the step- or half-relation and the incarcerated individual were raised as cohabiting siblings.

"Incarcerated individual" means a person who has been committed to the custody of the department of corrections or to a judicial district department of correctional services.

"Personal search" means a pat-down search on top of the visitor's clothes or the nonintrusive use of an electronic search process.

"Visiting list" means the screened list of approved visitors with authorized visiting privileges at all department of corrections institutions.

(2)Schedule. Each department of corrections institution will structure a visiting schedule allowing visitation for a minimum of four days per week. Each institution's visiting room will be open a minimum of four hours on each authorized day of visiting. The warden will designate the time for visiting on certain days/holidays and advise the incarcerated individuals. The incarcerated individual is responsible for informing the visitor of the days and hours for visitation.

(3)Authorized visitors.

a. The central visiting authority will establish an approved visiting list for each incarcerated individual. This visiting list remains valid when the incarcerated individual is transferred to another institution.

b. To meet facility design limitations and security considerations, the visiting list shall be limited to the following individuals:

(1) Immediate family members.

(2) A total of six other individuals or groups who are the incarcerated individual's friends or extended family members.

(3) Minor children under the immediate supervision of their parent or legal guardian. The minor children of an incarcerated individual shall also be allowed to visit under the immediate supervision of any adult on the incarcerated individual's approved visiting list.

c. Limitation. An individual on the approved visiting list of one incarcerated individual shall not be on the approved visiting list of another incarcerated individual, regardless of the location(s) of the incarcerated individuals. An exception may only be granted pursuant to 20.3(5)"b."

(4)Nonauthorized visitors.

a. The following persons shall not be authorized to visit:

(1) Individuals whose behavior represents a control problem or is counterproductive to stable behavior of an incarcerated individual. This determination may be reflected in the background investigation report which shows that the individual has a record of carrying concealed weapons, use of a controlled substance, previous violation of institutional rules, or similar behavior.

(2) Individuals under criminal indictment.

(3) Individuals on probation, work release, or parole.

(4) Individuals found to be involved with or convicted of incidents of aiding an escape or introducing contraband in any detention or supervised correctional setting.

(5) Individuals who intentionally give false information on the visitor's application form.

(6) Individuals convicted of a felony.

(7) Individuals who may compromise the order and security of the institution.

b. A person working in any institution as a volunteer shall not be on an incarcerated individual's visiting list except with the permission of the warden or designee.

c. Neither a victim of a sex offense, whether registered or not, nor the victim's family members will be approved for the visiting list of the perpetrator in the victim's case until department staff consult with the victim and restorative justice administrator of the department. Visitation requests from victims shall be considered only when the incarcerated individual has successfully completed all recommended treatment programs of the department or board of parole. If the victim's or victim's family member's visitation request is denied, the victim or victim's family member may file an appeal pursuant to 20.3(6)"d."

d. A sex offender whose victim was a minor shall not be permitted to have any children on the incarcerated individual's visiting list until the incarcerated individual has completed the sex offender treatment program. After the incarcerated individual's completion of the treatment program, a minor victim of the incarcerated individual may be added to the incarcerated individual's visiting list only with the approval of the institutional treatment team and the victim and restorative justice administrator of the department. Other children may be added to the incarcerated individual's visiting list after the incarcerated individual's completion of the treatment program and approval of the institutional treatment team.

e. An application from a victim of a crime other than a sex offense who seeks to be added to the visiting list of the perpetrator in the victim's case shall be reviewed with the victim and restorative justice administrator of the department prior to any approval or denial.

(5)Exceptions. The following exceptions may be implemented by the central visiting authority upon the approval of the warden or designee.

a. The incarcerated individual's spouse, child, mother or father who is currently under department supervision or on probation, work release, or parole may be approved to visit the incarcerated individual by the warden or designee after consultation with the supervising parole/probation officer. The warden or designee may authorize either contact or noncontact visiting.

b. The warden or designee may grant an exception to the limitation in 20.3(3)"c" when the person is an immediate family member of more than one incarcerated individual and seeks to be added to the visiting lists of only those incarcerated individuals.

c. A former or current department employee or volunteer who is a member of an incarcerated individual's immediate family may be approved to visit the incarcerated individual by the warden or designee.

d. A former department employee or volunteer who is not an immediate family member of an incarcerated individual may be allowed to visit six months after leaving employment or ceasing volunteer service if the former employee or volunteer passes the normal background investigation, there are no security issues arising from the person's prior employment or volunteer service, and the CVA receives approval from the warden or designee.

e. An incarcerated individual who is an immediate family member discharged from prison without correctional supervision must wait six months before contact visits may be arranged. Noncontact visiting may be authorized only for the spouse, child, mother or father of an incarcerated individual.

(6)Application process.

a. Visitor application forms shall be provided to incarcerated individuals at each institution. Incarcerated individuals are responsible for mailing visitor application forms to prospective visitors, who may then apply to be added to the incarcerated individual's visiting list. The completed visitor application form must be sent for processing to the central visiting authority at the following address: Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility, Attn: Central Records, 1200 E. Washington, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa 52641.

b. All adults, including the incarcerated individual's own children if they are 18 years of age or older, must complete the visitor application process in order to be considered for inclusion on an incarcerated individual's visiting list.

c. Written notification. Written notification of denial of a visitor application will be given to both the incarcerated individual and the applicant within 30 days from the CVA's receipt of the application. Notification of approval of a visitor application will be given only to the incarcerated individual. The incarcerated individual is responsible for notifying the approved visitor.

d. Appeals. When an application is denied, the applicant and the incarcerated individual shall be apprised of the reasons for denial.

(1) Applicants may appeal to the warden or designee in writing. An appeal by an applicant who is the victim of a sex offense, or who is the victim's family member, and is seeking to visit the perpetrator of the crime shall be reviewed in consultation with the department sex offender treatment director or the institution's treatment director for participation in evidence-based programs.

(2) The decision of the warden or designee may be appealed to the director of the department of corrections or the director's designee. The decision of the director or the director's designee constitutes final agency action.

(7)Removal from visiting list. If an incarcerated individual wishes to have a visitor removed from the incarcerated individual's visiting list, the incarcerated individual shall complete the Removal of Visitor form contained in department policy OP-MTV-04 and send it to the central visiting authority. Upon receipt of the removal request, the central visiting authority shall respond to the request within seven business days and notify the incarcerated individual of the completed removal. Once a visitor has been removed from a visiting list, six months must elapse before reapplication by the removed visitor.

(8)Searches. Approved visitors shall be subject to search. In accordance with 20.3(14), the search may include a pat down, search by an electronic detection device, or visual search.

(9)Identification. All visitors shall present proper identification before the start of the visit. Photo identification is preferred, but any identification presented shall identify personal characteristics, such as color of hair and eyes, height, weight, and birth date.

a. Signature cards may be required from visitors.

b. All visitors may be required to be photographed for future identification purposes only.

(10)Special visitors.

a.Law enforcement. Division of criminal investigation agents, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents, and law enforcement officials shall present proof of identity upon entrance to the institution.

b. Attorneys. Attorneys must complete an initial visitor application form to visit an incarcerated individual; however, this initial application shall apply to multiple visiting lists. After initial approval is established, attorneys must contact the central visiting authority at (319)385-9511 to be added to the visiting lists of additional incarcerated individuals. Background checks are not required, and attorneys shall not be counted as a friend on an incarcerated individual's visiting list as set forth in 20.3(3)"b."

Attorneys shall present proof of identity before the start of the visit. The incarcerated individual must express a desire to visit with an attorney before the attorney will be admitted. Attorney visits shall be during normal visiting hours unless a special visit has been requested by the incarcerated individual and approved by the warden or designee prior to the visit.

An attorney testing positive by an electronic detection device may be required to visit without direct contact.

c.Ministers. Ministers must complete an initial visitor application form to visit an incarcerated individual; however, this initial application shall apply to multiple visiting lists. After initial approval is established, ministers must contact the central visiting authority at (319)385-9511 to be added to the visiting lists of additional incarcerated individuals. Background checks are required. Ministers shall not be counted as a friend on an incarcerated individual's visiting list as set forth in 20.3(3)"b."

Ministers shall present proof of identity before the start of the visit. The incarcerated individual must express a desire to visit with a minister before the minister will be admitted. Minister visits shall be during normal visiting hours unless a special visit has been requested by the incarcerated individual and approved by the warden or designee prior to the visit.

A minister testing positive by an electronic detection device may be required to visit without direct contact.

(11)Termination of visiting privileges. Individuals may have visiting privileges modified or terminated when:

a. The incarcerated individual or visitor engages in behavior that may in any way be disruptive to the order and control of the institution.

b. The visitor or incarcerated individual fails to follow the established rules and procedures of the institution.

c. The visitor and incarcerated individual directly exchange or attempt to exchange any object or article. This restriction does not apply to purchases from the canteen or visiting room vending machines that are consumed during the visit.

d. The visitor tests positive for drugs or explosives as determined by an authorized electronic detection device calibrated and operated for testing for the presence of drugs or other contraband.

e. The visit or future visiting is detrimental to the health or welfare of the incarcerated individual or visitor.

f. The visitor does not supervise the visitor's children to prevent them from interfering with or disrupting other visits.

Incarcerated individuals may request reconsideration of denied visitors six months after resolution of the reason for denial or when approved by the warden or designee or institutional deputy director.

(12)Noncontact visiting. The warden or designee may allow noncontact visits when the order or security of the institution may be threatened or when disciplinary rules or procedures have been violated. Noncontact visiting hours will be provided on a scheduled basis. The hours and days will be posted by the warden or designee, and notice will be posted at least one week prior to any change. Visitors on the noncontact list at the time of a schedule change will be notified of the schedule change by regular mail sent to the last-known address.

(13)Clothing. Visitors shall be properly attired prior to entering a correctional setting. All visitors shall wear shoes. Visitors wearing miniskirts, shorts (that are above the knee), muscle shirts, see-through clothing or halter tops will not be allowed to visit. Visitors wearing clothing with slogans, pictures, or words intended to deprecate race, sex, or cultural values will not be allowed entry. Visitors may be required to remove for the duration of the visit outerwear such as, but not limited to, coats, hats, gloves, or sunglasses. A medical need for sunglasses must be verified by prescription.

(14)Security procedures. Visitors may be requested to submit to a personal search (pat down) or an electronic search for weapons or contraband. "Personal search" means a pat-down search on top of the visitor's clothes or the nonintrusive use of an electronic search process. If the initial electronic test confirms the presence of a controlled substance, the visitor will be given a second confirmation test. When the electronic detection device alarm is activated, the visitor shall produce the item that set off the alarm or a personal search may be made to find the item. If the visitor refuses to submit to a search, access to visiting shall be denied and entrance shall be denied. All searches shall be conducted in a courteous manner to respect the visitor's privacy. Minors are subject to personal and electronic searches. When a visitor accompanied by a minor refuses to leave the minor with a staff person and does not want the minor present during the search, the visit will be denied. When a minor is searched, the supervising adult shall be present in the room at all times.

a. The warden or designee will maintain records of all searches which produce positive results, including the name of each person subjected to a search, the names of the persons conducting and in attendance at the search, and the time, date, and place of the search. The written record shall reflect the reason for the search and the results of the search. The written authorization for the search shall be included in the record. Testing records will be maintained by the institution for one year and then expunged. Records of positive tests will be maintained for five years and then expunged. All testing records are confidential and will be released only upon the order of a court of proper jurisdiction.

b. When a visitor tests positive by an electronic search device, the visitor may appeal to the warden or designee in writing. The decision of the warden or designee may be appealed to the director of the department of corrections or the director's designee. The decision of the director or the director's designee constitutes final agency action.

c. Staff may request that local law enforcement search visitors if search procedures oran electronic testing device shows that there is a clear, reliable reason to believe a particular visitor is attempting to smuggle contraband into the facility. If the search reveals drugs or illegal contraband, the item shall be confiscated and preserved by local law enforcement. Visitors found in possession of contraband shall be referred by local law enforcement to the county attorney for prosecution.

(15)Money orders, cashier's checks, and electronic funds transfers. Money orders and cashier's checks for deposit in the incarcerated individual's account must be made payable to the Iowa Department of Corrections Incarcerated Individual Fiduciary Account (IDOC IIFA) and sent to: Fort Dodge Correctional Facility, 1550 L Street, Suite B, Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501, and must include the incarcerated individual's name and ID number and the sender's name and complete address. Funds will also be accepted via electronic funds transfers from authorized vendors. Personal checks and cash will not be accepted. An incarcerated individual's suspected abuse of requests for money from the public may be cause for limits or restrictions on the amounts of money which can be received and from whom money can be received.

(16)Limits. Each institution, according to its facilities and conditions, shall limit the number of visitors an incarcerated individual may have at any one time and the length of visits.

(17)Segregation status. Incarcerated individuals who are assigned to special units such as disciplinary detention or administrative segregation status may have visits modified in regard to place, time, and visitor, depending on the staff and space available.

(18)Abuse of visiting privileges. Visiting privileges may be modified, suspended, or terminated when abuses are evidenced or planned.

(19)Special visits. The warden or designee may permit special visits not otherwise provided for in this rule. These may include, but are not limited to, extended visits for close family members traveling extended distances, immediate visits for close relatives or friends about to leave the area, visits necessary to straighten out critical personal affairs, and other visits for similar reasons. All these visits shall be at the sole discretion of the warden or designee. When ruling on such visits, the warden or designee shall consider appropriate factors including the uniqueness of the circumstances involved for both the incarcerated individual and the visitor; security, order, and administrative needs of the institution; and available alternatives to a special visit. The decision of the warden or designee in these cases constitutes final agency action.

(20)Temporary modifications. Visiting procedures may be temporarily modified or suspended in the following circumstances: riot, disturbance, fire, labor dispute, space and personnel restrictions, natural disaster, or other emergency.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 904.512.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 201-20.3

Amended by IAB August 1, 2018/Volume XLI, Number 3, effective 9/5/2018

Amended by IAB July 27, 2022/Volume XLV, Number 2, effective 8/31/2022