Federal prisons ban visitations

WASHINGTON — Inmates at all 122 federal correctional facilities across the country will no longer be allowed visits from family, friends or attorneys for the next 30 days, in response to the threat of the coronavirus, officials told the Associated Press on Friday.

The restrictions, now in effect, were portrayed as a precaution, since no federal inmates or Federal Bureau of Prisons staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. The officials said some exceptions could be made for legal visits.

The plan to temporarily suspend visitation, curtail staff travel and pause inmate transfers is part of the bureau’s action plan for concerns over the spread of the new coronavirus for the 175,000 inmates in Bureau of Prisons custody.

Correctional officers and other BOP staff members who work in facilities in areas with “sustained community transmission” or at medical referral centers — which provide advanced care for inmates with chronic or acute medical conditions — would be subject to enhanced health screenings. Those include having their temperature taken before they report for duty each day.

The restrictions, described in an action plan obtained by the AP, will remain in effect for 30 days and then will be reevaluated.

Unlike a security lockdown, inmates will not be locked in cells.

The restrictions come as courts have suspended or delayed trials and classes, sports events, concerts and conferences are canceled across the country in an effort to minimize the spread of the virus.

Under the new plan, there would be no social visits at any Bureau of Prisons facilities, but inmates would be eligible for an additional 200 minutes of phone time per month.

Legal visits are also being suspended, though officials said accommodations could be made on a case-by-case basis.

“Access to legal counsel remains a paramount requirement in the BOP but like social visiting, the BOP is mitigating the risk of exposure created by external visitors,” the agency said in a statement.

The new plan was being put into place because “the population density of prisons creates a risk of infection and transmission for inmates and staff,” it said.

As part of the plan, all new inmates are screened for the risk factors of COVID-19. Those who are asymptomatic but have risk factors would be quarantined and those who showed symptoms and also had risk factors would be isolated and tested for COVID-19.

Visits by volunteers and official staff travel and training will also be suspended, with limited exceptions.

Inmates will still be able to speak privately with religious advisors by phone.