Alyssa Ridenour
ECB Publishing, Inc.
On Friday, Oct. 2, visitation officially reopened at all correctional institutions across the state of Florida, including Jefferson Correctional Institution. The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) has constructed an intricate and in-depth plan to protect the inmates as well as their families from COVID-19 to the best of their abilities. This newly established plan is known as the modified visitation plan and will implement protective guidelines for the safety of all parties involved.
Visitors will be required to submit a visitation request via the automated visitation request form on the modified visitation web page. Requests are done on a weekly basis and must be submitted between 5 a.m. on the Monday prior to the weekend intended for visitation and no later than 5 p.m. on the Wednesday following that Monday. Prospective visitors are not to call the institution in an endeavor to schedule a visitation appointment, as they are not properly staffed to handle a high volume of phone calls. Visitors will be notified of their approval status via the email they provided. If a visitation request is not approved, it will roll over onto a waiting list for the next week. No walk-ups will be permitted entry. It is mandatory to fill out the automated visitation request form online.
Not all inmates are eligible for visitation. If an inmate is medically compromised or vulnerable, or has been moved into quarantine/isolation, they will not be permitted visitation. It is up to the inmate to notify his or her family of their eligibility status.
Inmates will be allowed visitation with two immediate family members per week. If non-immediate or extended family wants to visit an inmate, approval will be at the discretion of the warden of the institution. All minor visitors must be at least 12 years of age or older and will not be permitted to move freely about the visitation park. There is no maximum age limit for visitors.
Once approved for visitation, families of inmates must be vigilant in ensuring that they follow the safety guidelines put into place by the FDC. Inmates whose DC number ends in an odd number will have visitation on Saturdays. Inmates with a DC number ending in an even number will have visitation on Sundays. Visitation will be split into two separate sessions. Session one will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 12 p.m. Session two will begin at 1 p.m. and end at 4 p.m. A one hour window will fall between sessions, allowing time for proper cleaning and sanitation.
When families arrive for an approved and eligible visitation, they must report to the control room where they will be checked in and processed on a first come, first served basis. It is advised that visitors arrive approximately an hour early to allow time for the admission process. Once families arrive at the control room, they will be asked to provide their mobile phone number and return to their car until they are called to come in. This is done in an effort to reduce the accumulation of any large crowds that may increase the risk of transmitting COVID-19. No visitors will be allowed after 90 minutes prior to the end of the time frame. Visitation arrivals will be cut off at 10:30 a.m. for session one and 2:30 p.m. for session two. This will allow for an adequate amount of time to check in, pass through security and go through the medical screening questions while still having some time to visit. Before being permitted entry into the visitation park, visitors will be asked a series of questions and have their temperature taken.
Individuals who exhibit any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or a respiratory infection will be required to leave, along with anyone who accompanied them to visitations. The signs and symptoms to check for are as follows: cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, a fever of 99.6 degrees or higher, chills, fatigue, muscle and/or body aches, pressure in the chest, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Visitors who have come in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 or is suspected of having the virus will also be denied entry.
Visitors are required to wash and sanitize their hands at the entrance before being allowed to visit. No personal hand sanitizers will be permitted. Families will wear a FDC issued mask. Any personal outside masks will not be permitted. If visitors wear a mask entering the facility, they will be asked to dispose of it. Wearing a mask is mandatory in visitation. Lowering or removing the mask will result in the termination of the offenders visitation.
No physical contact is permitted during visitation. Inmates and visitors will be seated on opposite sides of a table, divided by a clear plastic divider. Visitors are also expected to social distance, maintaining six feet between them and the next closest individual. If unsure, visitors can look for indicators put in place to help with distancing.
A water cooler with disposable cups will be available. However, there will be no visitation photos, canteen or vending access and outside food and beverages are not permitted. All toy boxes, books and games normally available in visitation have been removed.
For further information or to verify the information provided, please visit www.dc.state.fl.us and click the green box labeled "modified visitation." That will take you to a page with commonly asked questions listed. On the right hand side of the page, you will see two beige boxes that say "visitation request form." There are English and Spanish versions of the form for your convenience. You can fill out these forms anytime within the application time frame from Monday at 5 a.m. to Wednesday at 5 p.m. on any given week.
The page also provides a visitation info-graphic, giving viewers a more visual way to receive the information regarding the regulations in place for visitation. Please be advised that any violation of the regulations set in place by FDC will result in termination of the visit.