An Act To Provide for In-person Visitation of Incarcerated Persons

Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §1663  is enacted to read:

§ 1663.  Visitation

summary

This bill requires a county sheriff to provide for in-person visitation at a county jail between a prisoner and a visitor of the prisoner, subject to conditions and limitations imposed on a case-by-case basis as required for the safety and security of the jail as determined by the sheriff and subject to an exception for video-only visitation. The bill allows a sheriff to provide video-only visitation only after a determination is made on a case-by-case basis, documented in the record of the prisoner, that in-person visitation may jeopardize the safety and security of the jail or that, on a short-term basis, the jail facility is unable to provide a safe and secure location for in-person visitation.