PRINTER'S NO. 1548
No. 1299 Session of 1985
INTRODUCED BY RICHARDSON, JOSEPHS, BUSH AND CARN, JUNE 3, 1985
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JUNE 3, 1985
AN ACT
1 Authorizing family visitation privileges for inmates at State
2 correctional facilities.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Short title.
6 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Inmate Family
7 Visitation Privileges Act.
8 Section 2. Definitions.
9 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
10 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11 context clearly indicates otherwise:
12 "Bureau." The Bureau of Correction.
13 "Family member." The inmate's natural and foster parents,
14 grandparents, brothers, sisters, children, stepchildren, foster
15 children, grandchildren and spouse. The term does not include a
16 person under 18 years of age unless approved by the
17 superintendent.
1 Section 3. Family visitation privilege.
2 Except as otherwise provided in this act, every inmate in a
3 State correctional facility operated by the bureau shall be
4 provided a private visit with a family member or members not
5 less than once every three months and for a period of duration
6 of not less than 24 hours.
7 Section 4. Exceptions to eligibility.
8 The following inmates shall not be entitled to the private
9 visitation privileges provided in section 3:
10 (1) Inmates who have participated in a furlough within
11 the immediately preceding 30-day period or who are approved
12 for a furlough within the immediately succeeding 30-day
13 period.
14 (2) Inmates housed in prerelease centers.
15 (3) Inmates confined in isolation for disciplinary
16 reasons.
17 (4) Inmates which the superintendent deems to be a
18 danger to the health and safety of the visiting family member
19 or members.
20 (5) Inmates which the superintendent deems inappropriate
21 for visitation on the basis of serious misconduct in the
22 period three months prior to or during a private family
23 visit.
24 (6) Inmates or family members which the superintendent
25 deems inappropriate for visitation on the basis of violations
26 of any law or other regulation regarding prisoner visitation
27 in the period six months prior to or during a private family
28 visit.
29 Section 5. Suspension of privilege.
30 The private visitation privileges provided in section 3 may
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1 be terminated or suspended by the superintendent of the
2 institution if, during the unsupervised visitation period, an
3 inmate or participating family member violates any other
4 regulation regarding prisoner visitation or the provisions of 18
5 Pa.C.S. § 5121 (relating to escape), 5122 (relating to weapons
6 or implements for escape) or 5123 (relating to contraband).
7 Section 6. Construction and renovation of family visitation
8 units.
9 The bureau shall, where practical, utilize inmate labor and
10 attempt to secure voluntary contributions for the construction,
11 renovation and furnishing of units for unsupervised family
12 visitation purposes.
13 Section 7. Rules and regulations.
14 The bureau may, in the manner provided by law, promulgate
15 rules and regulations necessary to carry out this act.
16 Section 8. Effective date.
17 This act shall take effect in two years.
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