Amendment ID: S2185-4-R2

2nd Redraft Amendment 4

Preventing Injustice and the Inhumane Treatment of Families

Messrs. Montigny, Rodrigues and Eldridge, Ms. Jehlen, Messrs. Pacheco, Timilty and Barrett move to amend the bill by inserting after section 108 the following section:-

“SECTION 108A.  Said chapter 127 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 36B the following section:-

Section 36C.  A correctional institution, jail or house of correction shall not prohibit, eliminate or unreasonably limit in-person visitation of inmates or coerce, compel or otherwise pressure an inmate to forego or limit in-person visitation.  For the purposes of this section, an unreasonable limit shall include, but not be limited to, providing an eligible inmate fewer than 2 opportunities for in-person visitation during a 7-day period.  A correctional institution, jail or house of correction that elects to use video or other types of electronic devices for inmate communications with visitors shall not make such communications available in lieu of in-person visits prescribed in this section.  Nothing in this section shall prohibit the temporary suspension of visitation privileges for good cause including, but not limited to, misbehavior or during a bonafide emergency.

A correctional institution, jail or house of correction may charge a fee for video visitation communication for inmate communications not occurring on site; provided, however, that the fee shall not exceed the operating cost of the communication.  Fees collected in excess of operating costs shall be allocated to the fund established under chapter 258C.”.