VOLUNTEERS AND CONTRACTORS: Voluntary visits, with the exception of visiting volunteers and faith volunteers, will be suspended unless approved by the BoP Deputy Director. Voluntary Visiting Services provide mentoring services through one-on-one visits with inmates in the visiting room during normal visiting hours. Other means of communication are envisaged for detainees who request to speak to a religious adviser. Volunteers whose access is approved are checked before entering using the same procedures as staff. Contractors who provide essential services, religious services, or necessary maintenance of essential systems are allowed to enter the facility, but must undergo COVID-19 testing and temperature control before entering. When conducting screening activities, employees or contractors wear PPE in accordance with BOP and CDC guidelines. SOCIAL VISIT: The BOP recognizes the importance of inmates maintaining relationships with friends and family. During the modified surgeries in response to COVID-19, the BOP suspended social visits, but inmates were given 500 (compared to 300) free phone minutes per month to compensate for the suspension of social visits. As an amendment to the BOP Phase Nine Action Plan and in accordance with specific risk mitigation guidelines, social visits will resume to ensure the safety of our employees, inmates, visitors and communities. Check all visit rules, regulations and procedures before your visit. Each institution has created plans in line with its institutional resources (including physical space) and will continually monitor its visit schedule and make immediate changes as needed to effectively manage COVID-19. Such a change may include restricting or postponing the visit, providing visits by appointment or, if necessary, other adjustments. All visits are contactless and social distancing between inmates and visitors is enforced, either through the use of plexiglass or similar barriers or through physical distancing (i.e., a distance of 6 feet).
Inmates in quarantine or segregation do not participate in social visits. The number of visitors allowed in the visitor room depends on the space available when using social distancing. The frequency and duration of visits shall be determined so that all detainees have the opportunity to visit at least twice a month. Visitors are screened for symptoms and temperature checked; Visitors who are sick or symptomatic are not allowed to visit. Occupants and visitors must wear an appropriate face covering (e.g., no bandanas) at all times and perform hand hygiene shortly before and after the visit. Frequently touched tables, chairs and other surfaces are disinfected between groups of visitors; All areas, including the lobbies, are cleaned once the daily tour is over. Make sure your visit is a success by carefully following these four steps. BOP is committed to protecting the health and well-being of those in our care, as well as our employees, their families and the communities in which we live and work. PROGRAMMING: Inmate programming is an essential function in our institutions, and the implementation of Programs and Productive Activities (MAs) approved by the First Step Act and cee-TCE (evidence-Based Recidivism Reduction) is required by law. These COVID-19 guidelines are being shared with private prisons and DRR for transmission to staff and inmates at these institutions so that similar protocols can be implemented. ADMISSION: Prior to entry into the facility or at intake and discharge: All new admissions to an institution, including voluntary transfers, BOP to BOP transfers, or transfers from outside the BOP system, will be screened for COVID-19 by medical staff – including symptom screening, temperature control, and an approved viral PCR test (either an Abbott ID NOW point-of-care [POC] test or a commercial PCR test), which is performed on a sample from a nasopharynx. Medium cornet or anterior swab of Nares.
TOURS: Visits will be suspended. All exceptions must be approved by the Deputy Director. If approved, participants will be selected according to the same procedures as staff before entering. Find out or confirm the whereabouts of the inmate you wish to visit. The following clothing is generally not permitted, but please refer to the visiting instructions of the institution in question, what clothing and items are allowed in the visiting room: Sometimes an inmate may be transferred to another institution so that he or she can benefit from unique programs offered at that location. They may also be misplaced to receive treatment for a medical condition or for safety concerns. Therefore, the first step in planning your visit should be to determine the current whereabouts of the inmate. 3. Immediate dismissals: A released inmate who cannot be cared for as described in points 1 and 2 above due to legal or judicial requirements will receive a symptom screening, temperature check and a rapid PDC (Abbott ID Now) test on the day of departure. The local health authorities of the place of reception will be informed and, if necessary, travel arrangements will be coordinated with them (for example, if quarantine or isolation conditions are required during transport or on arrival).
The occupant must wear a face covering when leaving the establishment and going to his destination. All inmates transferred from one institution to another, to other correctional facilities or released from THE CUSTODY of the PO will be treated in one of three categories: Institutions with active cases of COVID-19 may make exceptions to these programming requirements for inmate and staff security reasons. Further information on the revised visit procedures and timetable for each institution will be available shortly and will be published on www.bop.gov. MODIFIED OPERATIONS: BOP has implemented modified operations to maximize social distancing in our facilities as much as possible. To this end, inmates are restricted in their movements in order to prevent gatherings and maximize social distancing. Essential details of inmates` work, such as food service, continue to operate with appropriate screenings. The movement of inmates in small numbers is permitted for the following purposes: If inmates become symptomatic during quarantine, they are re-analyzed (Abbott or commercial) and immediately placed in MEDICAL ISOLATION. EMPLOYEE TRAINING: All in-person training will be suspended until October 31, 2020. Exceptions to in-person training include: TIC I, TIC II, meeting mandatory requirements for annual training, OSHA-mandated certifications, and any training that can be delivered remotely to meet ongoing mandatory eligibility requirements that cannot be waived. Note that inmate travel should always provide, as required, the necessary mental health or medical care, including continued sick leave. Some of Unicor`s operations are also ongoing. Before you can go to the inmate`s approved visiting list.
