Current through Register 1533, October 25, 2024
Section 471.09 - Access of Visiting Clergy(1)General. Clergy visits shall take place during normal visiting hours. However, under extenuating circumstances, special visits with clergy may be permitted for any reasonable purpose with the authorization of the Superintendent or designee. When special visits are scheduled outside normal circumstances, they shall be scheduled in the IMS Inmate Schedule screen utilizing the activity type of "visit" and a notation of "clergy" in the description field.(2)Special Visiting Areas. Clergy visits shall normally be held in approved visiting areas. However, if these areas do not provide the degree of privacy that the clergy member deems appropriate for the purpose of the visit, the clergy member may request that a special visiting area be provided, subject to the Superintendent's approval. The Superintendent of the institution or designee may identify any area of the institution as a special visiting area for clergy visits.(3) Visiting clergy may be permitted to meet with more than one inmate at a time where the following procedure is utilized: (a) Any requests by visiting clergy to meet with more than one inmate at a time shall be referred to an Institution Chaplain.(b) The Institution Chaplain shall verify, on a case-by-case basis, the status of the inquiring clergy. If the Institution Chaplain verifies that the visiting clergy is in good standing, he or she shall notify the Director of Treatment or the Superintendent's designee.(c) Upon approval by the Superintendent, visiting clergy may then schedule visits with more than one inmate as allowed, on conditions set forth by the Superintendent.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1334, eff. 3/10/2017.