Visitation During COVID-19

Visitation guidelines for each facility are contingent upon testing data and positivity rates specific to each site and in the broader community. Like re-opening practices across the Commonwealth, DOC’s approach is based on data and may change based on that data. 

Personal visits are limited during this phase to one visit per inmate per week, with up to two visitors at a time, and must be scheduled 24 hours in advance.  Visitors will still need to ensure they are added to their loved ones pre-approved visiting list and have completed the pre-approval process. 

Attorney visits remain ongoing and unaffected by this change. 

The following are Department-wide protocols to ensure safety for inmates, staff, and visitors.

• A negative COVID test result will be required before entering any facility. The DOC will provide rapid COVID testing to visitors, attorneys, and volunteers at no cost to them. Attorneys who decline to be tested will be permitted a non-contact visit. Please review the next section for more information and testing locations and schedules.
• Visitors will answer standard screening questions about their health.
• Visitors will have their temperatures taken prior to entering the facility.
• Visits will be conducted in designated areas, and all individuals will remain in their assigned areas to maintain social distancing.
• Face coverings will be worn at all times, even after a negative test, both by visitors and inmates.
  • Face Coverings will be of a solid color or pattern print.
  • Face Coverings that displays written statements, messages or slogans: sports teams or any other advertising slogans or logos; and pictorial depictions will not be allowed.
• Visitors will be required to use hand sanitizer before and after the visiting period.
• All visits are non-contact 

Testing will be conducted by a professional testing agency that will be using the Abbot BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen Test, which will produce results in as little as 15 minutes. Testing days will coincide with visiting days at facilities and will occur at DOC regional testing sites listed below. 

Anyone who is attempting to visit should continue to call the respective facility and schedule their visits in advance. When calling to schedule a visit, staff will be able to provide more information on the testing process and the regional testing site locations.

Visitors must complete the pre-approval process prior to scheduling an in-person visit and must be listed on their loved one's pre-approved visiting list. 

For visitors that have not completed the pre-approval process please follow the pre-approval instructions located here.

To schedule a visit, visitors will call their loved one's respective facility to submit your name for a visitation period and obtain any additional information on the protocols during this phase.   

To further promote connected relationships with families and loved ones, video visitation is operational. Video visitors must also complete the pre-approval process prior to scheduling a video visit and must be listed on their loved one's pre-approved visiting list prior to scheduling. 

Please visit Securus Video Visitation online to create an account. For video visitation with Bridgewater State Hospital patients or persons served, please refer to the document below for more information. 

For potential video visitors that have not completed the pre-approval process, please follow the instructions located here.