MA DOC – Old Colony Correctional Center (OCCC)

MA DOC – Old Colony Correctional Center (OCCC) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 508-279-6000

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at Old Colony Correctional located at 1 Admin Rd in Bridgewater, MA are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

visitation Info

MA DOC – Old Colony Correctional Center (OCCC) – Visitation

Visiting Hours – General Population

Inmates are allowed five (5) visits per week. Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturday. The amount of visits shall be strictly enforced.

Visitors shall be allowed to remain in the visiting room from one period to another; however the inmate shall be charged for two (2) visits with the exception of Sunday due to there are NO BACK TO BACK VISITS ON SUNDAYS.

Visiting Special Housing Unit (SHU) – EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 19, 2012
Visiting Time periods are as follows:

Visiting Hours Segregation – (SMU) Non-Contact
Visiting time periods are as follows:

Visiting Hours – Minimum Unit
Visiting Time periods are as follows:

Visiting days and times may be subject to change. Please call the facility to verify visiting schedules.
Non-Contact Visits for Population Inmates

The Superintendent shall be the only authority who shall place a population inmate on non-contact visiting status based on instances of substantiated security risk.

Assignment of an inmate to the non-contact visiting room is not to be used as a form of punishment nor is it to be used as a disciplinary sanction.

The passing of contraband, the attempt to introduce contraband, the refusal to provide a urine for drug screen, or the testing positive for illegal drugs shall constitute sufficient cause to assign an inmate to non-contact visiting. Any other incident or action which interferes with the security or orderly operation of the institution and which the Superintendent determines to be a substantiated security risk, may result in an inmate's assignment to the non-contact visiting room.

The assignment of non-contact visits by the Superintendent shall be for a indefinite period of time. Once an inmate has been assigned to the non-contact visiting room, that status may be reviewed:

• At anytime after the assignment
• At the inmates request
• At least every six (6) months by the Superintendent

Procedures for Population Non-Contact Visits

Upon the Superintendent's determination that a population inmate shall be on non-contact visiting status, a memo in writing stating such will be signed and distributed to the following areas:

• OIC of Outer Control
• OIC of Visiting Room
• OIC of Upper-Inner Control

It shall be the responsibility of the OIC in Outer Control to ensure that the Inmate Visiting Rolodex Card File is marked in black bold letters that said inmate is on non-contact visiting status. The OIC of Outer Control shall also ensure that the staff in Outer Control is aware of this procedure.

All visitors shall be processed in accordance with 103 CMR 483 and OCCC site-specific procedures for visits.

Visitors for non-contact visits shall not be allowed to bring debit cards into the visiting room.

Visitors shall not be required to make appointments for visits. However, if a visitor in Outer Control lobby is waiting to visit in the non-contact visiting room for population inmates and the visiting room is to capacity the visit in Outer Control shall have to wait until a non-contact visiting room is available. Visits for population inmates assigned to the non-contact visiting room shall be on the regular visiting schedule, Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, regular hours and shall be handled by a first come basis. There shall be no termination of visits for population non-contact visits.

The officer in Outer Control shall notify the unit, that the inmate has a visit. The officer shall also notify the Visiting Room OIC.

The inmate shall be escorted through the back corridor to the non-contact visiting room and shall be secured in the cage.

Upon completion of the visit the inmate shall be strip-searched.

Nursing of Infant child:

Female visitors shall be allowed to nurse their child in the V.R. privately in an attorney room. The room shall be searched before and after it is used, the officer shall be posted outside so no access is allowed in the room. Only the child and mother are allowed in the room.

H.S.U.

Inmates cleared by the Health Service Administrator to go to the Visiting Room may have visits.

Special Restraint Status

Inmates who have been designated "Special Restraint Status" by the Deputy Superintendent are permitted attorney visits only. Visits shall occur in the attorney visiting area.

Outside Hospital Visit

When an inmate is housed at an outside hospital and is determined by the attending physician to be at risk of imminent death, the Superintendent or Acting Superintendent only may authorized a special visit. All requests for these visits must be made through the Superintendent's office per 483.11.

Visitor Dress Code

Old Colony will adopt the standardized dress code.

In all instances, the Shift Commander will make final determination for admittance. For Further information you may contact 508-279-6000

Inmate Dress Code

Cold Weather Dress

• Plain blue or black denim pants
• Navy blue or black dress pants
• White collared shirt with black or navy blue pants with a sweater. White collared shirt may be worn with denim pants.
• T-shirt (black or navy). Sweaters (gray). Sweatshirts (black, navy and gray). Collared shirt (black, navy or white) may be worn with jeans.
• All shirts, t-shirts must be tucked in at all times.

Warm Weather Dress Code

• The above applies during warm weather
• A short sleeve T-shirt (black, navy) may be worn with denim pants

Restrictions and Limitation

• No jewelry is allowed into the visiting room except a wedding ring, religious medal (1), or a medical alert bracelet or necklace.
• No white undershirts without a pocket, no tank tops, sleeveless shirts, or thermal tops will be worn as outer garments
• No jackets or sweatshirts with a hood, or hat are allowed into the visiting room (with the exception to Religious hats).
• No sweatpants are allowed
• No combination of blue or black pants with a T-shirt or chambray shirt may be worn
• All clothing that is worn must be neat and presentable. No clothing that is excessively torn, ripped, or baggy will be allowed. No pants that have ripped lining pockets will be permitted worn into the visiting room
• Shoes must be worn. Socks are optional
• INMATES WILL BE permitted to bring into the visiting room: comb, I.D. Card, wedding band, handkerchief, medical alert necklace/bracelet.
• Food is to be consumed in the visiting room. Inmate or visitor will not be allowed to take food out of the visiting room.

Visitor Parking

All inmate visitors shall park in the visiting parking area adjacent to the main parking lot.

Remote control keyless ignition start will be prohibited by all Inmate visitor(s) in Old Colony Correctional Center parking lot(s).

All vehicles will be kept locked (secured) at all times.

Institution Visiting Rules and Procedures

The following rules shall be enforced and adhered to by all visitors:

• The Shift Commander on the 7-3 shift shall direct designated pat searches conducted on visits above and beyond the metal detector process.
• The 7-3 Shift Commander shall determine the frequency of visits pat searches at the same time he determines the staff search of the day. This frequency shall be noted in the Outer Control Log and shall also be utilized by the 3-11shift.
• When the visitor turns in the slip, the correction officer must check the slip to ensure it has been completed properly. The officer will then check the disciplinary Detection list, transportation list and barred visitor list to ensure the visitor should continue the entrance process. (Also ensure the visitor has current photographic identification such as driver's license, passport or State I.D. from Registry, military I.D.). The Superintendent or his designee may make exceptions.
• The slip shall be logged by the officer at the visiting officer's desk located in the outer control lobby, with the date, process number, inmate's name, visitor's name and time. The officer shall then stamp the lower right hand corner of the visiting slip with a stamp. The stamp is an indication that an officer has processed the visiting slip.
• Once the slip is received and approved, the unit in which the inmate is housed shall be notified via phone call by the officer processing slips, in order for the inmate to prepare for his visit.
• The visiting slip shall be returned to the visitor to wait for processing.
• The officer in the visitor processing area shall call visitors by numbers going in sequence. Visitors shall be called in-groups of five. In incidents where there are less than five visitors those visitors shall be processed immediately.
• The officer shall inform the visitor(s) what is allowed inside the facility (i.e., wedding bands, engagement rings, prescription glasses, and one (1) linen handkerchief and will ensure that all other articles have been properly secured.
• Any visitors that do not conform with appropriate visitor clothing regulations may be barred for the day. Visitors may be given an opportunity to change into appropriate clothing.
• Visitors shall be permitted to enter the institution with debit cards only. (No money of any kind). Debit cards are available in the main lobby. Only one (1) Debit card per visitor and it must be signed by the visitor. Only the person who signs the debit card may bring that card into the visiting room. Debit cards can only be used for the purpose of buying food items in the visiting room. Non-contact visits are not allowed to bring debit cards into the visit.
• Any debit card shall be considered contraband in the possession of an inmate.
• Upon the visitor entering the process area, they shall remove all outer garments and place them on the table. All items in their pockets shall be placed into the buckets provided in the process area. All garment pockets shall be turned inside out. The trap officer shall search (all pockets that cannot be turned inside out.) All articles will be searched for contraband.
• ALL VISITORS REGARDLESS OF THE SEARCH OF THE DAY SHALL HAVE TO SUCCESSFULLY PASS THROUGH THE METAL DETECTOR. (Shoes need to be removed; they shall be placed on the table by the visitor and searched by the officer.) Once the search is completed and the visitor has successfully passed through the metal detector, the visitor is free to regain possession of the articles in question. If a visitor can not pass the metal detector, an officer to ensure that no contraband is entering the institution will use the hand wand. The officer shall stamp the designated area. Children under the age of ten (10) shall not be required to be stamped.
• Visitors who are not able to successfully pass the metal detector shall be required to submit to a more extensive search. The search may include removing an article of clothing or up to and including a strip search. Any visitor who is asked to remove any article of clothing or submit to a strip search must read and sign the log located in Outer Control. Visitors must be informed that they may leave the institution rather than submit to a more extensive search. A report must be submitted to the senior staff person in charge of the shift explaining the circumstances and outcome of any searches. The report should then be forwarded to the Superintendent. The Shift Commander must approve staff requesting visitors to submit to a more extensive search.
• All personal searches shall be conducted within the curtain located in Outer Control. All strip searches shall be done in either the men or ladies' room located in the lobby area. (Two officers of the same sex when possible shall be present when conducting a strip search.)
• Any visitor who refuses to be strip-searched shall be informed that she/he may not attempt to visit again until she/he has written permission from the Superintendent or his designee.
• The visitor shall report to the Visiting Room officer's desk and give the officer the slip. The Visiting Room officer shall log in the visit, which shall include the visiting slip number, the time the inmate arrives in the visiting room, and the time that the inmate leaves the visiting room.
• Five (5) minutes prior to the end of the visiting period (8:40 P.M.), the OIC shall make an announcement to all inmates and their visitors that the visiting room shall be closing.
• At 8:45 p.m. the visiting room shall be cleared of all visitors and closed.
• The Pedestrian Trap officer shall conduct a wrist check on all visitors leaving the visiting room.
• Visitors shall be allowed to carry out of the visiting room what they brought in with them. The items purchased from the vending machines must be consumed in the visiting room or be discarded at the end of visit. There shall be no sharing of food items between inmate and visitors.
• Only four (4) adult visitors per inmate at one time. No more than (5) five children per inmate at one time.
• No visits are allowed for inmates on disciplinary detention status/room detention. When an inmate is on disciplinary detection/room detention and cannot receive his visits, every effort shall be made to allow the inmate to notify his visit of his non-visiting status. In circumstances in which an inmate cannot make a phone call, at the inmate's request someone from the unit team shall notify the visit.
• Visitors are required to lock their cars and secure personal effects whether in their car or in a locker available at the Outer Control Lobby.
• Carrying guns or other weapons, controlled substances, alcohol, or other restricted items in or out of the institution or on state property is strictly prohibited, and may result in the loss of visiting privileges and/or criminal prosecution.
• No visitor or inmate shall leave the visiting room until count has cleared. The visiting room shall be secured during the count and stay secured until the official count clears.
• In the event the visiting room is at full capacity, visits shall be terminated by slip number first in first out. Visitors shall not be asked to leave until they have had at least one (1) hour to visit or unless the inmate is participating in a special visit approved by the Superintendent.
• Smoking, and possession or other use of tobacco products by Inmates and visitors is prohibited.
• Visitors are only allowed to visit one (1) inmate housed at the institution. Exception shall be if the visitor is a blood relative. Visitors shall be required to request permission from the Superintendent in writing if they choose to visit another inmate.
• Visitors are allowed to enter the visiting room once a day. Once a visitor leaves the visiting room and/or institution, they shall not be permitted back until the next visiting day.

Children Visitors

All children (17 years or younger) wishing to visit must be accompanied by an adult.

Children accompanying an adult other than their legal guardian must have written permission from the legal guardian and this permission slip must be notarized in advance of the visit with the forms signed by the Superintendent. A birth certificate is also required for each visit. The birth certificate must be an official document with a raised town seal on the certificate.

Children in the visiting area shall be the responsibility of the adult visitor and shall not be allowed to engage in disruptive behavior or the visit will be terminated.

Diapers may be changed in the diaper changing room by the visitor only, and an officer will monitor this procedure.

Bathroom Facilities for Visitors/Inmates

Visitors

• Female visitors/Female staff shall utilize the female restroom located near the Inner Lower Control Room. At no time shall the male restroom be utilized.
• Male visitors/ Male staff shall utilize the male restroom located near the Inner Lower Control Room. At no time shall the female restroom be utilized.
• Visitors shall notify the visiting room officer prior to using the bathroom area.
• The Visiting Room officer shall verify with the Inner Lower Control officer that the bathroom facilities are available. Visitors must wait in the visiting area if the facilities are in use. When available, the Visiting Room officer shall direct the visitor toward the bathroom facilities. Children under the age of ten (10) must be accompanied with a guardian or with a parent other than the inmate.
• Restrooms are located near the Inner Lower Control Room for visitors use. All visitors will be pat searched inside the restroom before being allowed back into the visiting room. Visitors are expected to keep these areas clean.
• The restroom facilities are available for use at the discretion of the Officer in Charge if in the event the visitor is unable to wait until such time that restroom facilities are available, the visitor has the option to end the visit and leave the institution. The visitor will not be allowed to re-enter the institution until the next visiting day.
• Inmates and visitors will not be allowed to use the restrooms after 8:00 p.m.

Infant Diaper Change

• When an infant's diaper needs to be changed, if the parent or legal guardian is a female they are required to utilize the female restroom, located near the Inner Lower Control Room. If the parent or legal guardian is a male they are required to utilize the male restroom, located near the Inner Lower Control Room.

Inmates

• All inmates entering the visiting room will be pat searched.
• Inmates may use only those facilities designated for inmate use.
• Inmates are expected to assist by keeping these areas clean.
• The restroom facilities are available at the discretion of the Officer in Charge. All inmates shall be strip searched prior to using the restrooms. In the event that an inmate is unable to wait until such time the restroom facilities are available; the inmate may leave the visiting room to use the facilities in his housing unit. He will not be permitted to return to the visiting room until the next day. He will be strip searched prior to exiting the visiting room area.
• All inmates leaving the visiting room will be stripped searched (this includes General Population, Segregation, Non-Contact, Attorney visits etc). Inmates will hand their clothing to the officer so that the officer may search the clothing.

Medication for Inmates

Inmates requiring special medication (i.e. Insulin, etc.) shall be allowed to receive their medication and return to their visit. However, the same entrance procedure for inmates arriving for a visit shall be followed.

Funds

Visitors may drop off checks or money orders (no cash) in the box marked INMATE CHECKS in the outer control lobby. It should be in a sealed envelope with the inmate's name and number clearly marked.

Any funds not declared at Outer Control may be cause for barring action.

Only persons/visitors who are documented relatives or friends may drop off money or property for inmates.

Persons/visitors shall not be allowed to drop off money for more than one inmate.

If it is documented that a person/ visitor visits one inmate (visiting card) he/she shall not be allowed to drop off money for an inmate other than the one he/she visits.

Public Transportation

The Superintendent shall post a schedule of public transportation in a conspicuous location at the entrance or lobby of the institution.

Violation of Rules

Any violation of visiting rules by inmates may result in disciplinary action and/or loss of visiting privileges.

Any violation of visiting rules by visitors may result in termination of the visit and/or barring action.

Visitor's Access to Rules and Regulations

A copy of the institution's visiting rules and procedures shall be made available to any visitor who requests it.

Introduction of Legal Documents

Visitor Procedures

• The visitor shall make the request to the Outer Control Room Officer in Charge. The Outer Control Room Officer in Charge shall open up and inspect the paperwork/documents. The Shift Commander will determine the limit allowed. Once determined, the Officer in Charge of the Outer Control Room shall have the papers/documents hand carried by a staff member to the Officer in Charge of the Visiting Room.
• The inmate will review and/or sign the papers/documents. After this is completed, the Officer in Charge of the Visiting Room shall inspect the paper/documents and have them carried by a staff member to the Officer in Charge of Outer Control. The visitor can then retrieve the paper/documents from the Officer in Charge of Outer Control at the conclusion of the visit.

Inmate Procedure

• The inmate shall contact the Officer in Charge of the Upper Inner Control Room. The Officer in Charge of the Upper Inner Control Room shall open up and inspect the paperwork/documents. The Shift Commander shall be contacted in order to either approve or deny the request. If the request is approved, the Officer in Charge of the Upper Inner Control shall have a staff member hand deliver the papers/documents to the Officer in Charge of the Visiting Room. The inmate and visitor may now review and/or sign the papers/documents.
• The papers/documents are to be returned to the Visiting Room Officer in Charge. The Visiting Room Officer in Charge shall inspect the papers/documents. The Officer in Charge of the Visiting Room shall either have the papers/documents hand delivered to the Upper Inner Control Room depending on whether the inmate or visitor is to retain the papers/documents, as decided by the Shift Commander.
• The room immediately adjacent to the officer's break room is designated as an attorney visit room at Old Colony Correctional Center.

Minimum Unit:

Visitor Processing

At 1:00 P.M., visitors may obtain Request To Visit Inmate Forms at the desk, complete them, and give them to the Visiting Room Officer.

Visiting days and times may be subject to change. Please call the facility to verify visiting schedules.

The maximum number allowed to visit an inmate at any one time is 4 adults and 5 children.

Visiting periods may be offered for most major holidays. Schedules will be made available to inmates and as well as posted in the visiting room.

A criminal record check will be made on all first time visitors prior to the visit taking place. Anyone with a prior felony conviction must obtain written permission from the Superintendent prior to visiting.

The Minimum Unit Visiting Room Officer will process all visitors' visiting slips. The officer will ensure that the visiting slip is completely filled out, acceptable identification (driver's license, military identification, government issued identification, passport, identification card from the Department of Transitional Assistance) are presented and that the visitor is not on the PASS System. Identification presented by visitors, but not specifically listed above as acceptable, may or may not be allowed to be utilized at the discretion of the Shift Commander. Visitors will be processed on a first-come, first-served, basis.

All visitors are required to:

Secure their vehicles.

Store any personal items in their vehicles or in the lockers available in the Visitors' Locker Room. Personal items include, but are not limited to; the following articles:

• All hats, gloves, handbags, keys, wallets, etc. as well as all documents utilized during the processing period.
• At no time shall contact be made with an inmate prior to the storage of visitors' personal articles.

The carrying of guns or other weapons, controlled substances, alcohol, or any other article whatsoever into or out of the institution/visiting room may result in the loss of visiting privileges, as well as criminal prosecution.

Tobacco and tobacco related products are contraband and are not allowed in the visiting room. Smoking is prohibited on state property.

Visitors may bring the following items into the institution:

• One 25.00 debit card per adult visitor for use in the vending machines. All remaining visitor money must be locked in a locker prior to the arrival of the inmate.

No packages or parcels shall be accepted from visitors for delivery to inmates.

Once the visitor's Request to Visit Inmate form has been processed, the visitor shall then proceed to the seating area and be seated.

The Visiting Room Officer will then do the following:

• Note on visiting slip the time the visitor came in.
• Check the barred visitor list each time a visitor enters the Minimum Visiting Room to determine if the visitor is barred.
• Notify the Minimum Unit Officer that the inmate has a visit.
• Fill out the visitor-tracking sheet.

When an inmate enters the Visiting Room, he shall proceed directly to the officers' desk and submit his photo identification card to the officer. The inmate shall then proceed to the seating area. The officer will then fill in the section "Inmate In" on the visiting slip and visitor-tracking sheet with the time the inmate arrived in the Visiting Room.

At the conclusion of an inmate's visit, the visitor(s) shall report to a Visiting Room Officer that he/she is ready to leave. The Visiting Room Officer will notify the Minimum Unit which inmate is returning to the unit. The visitor(s) will remain in the Visiting Room until the inmate's physical return to the Minimum Unit has been confirmed by staff.

Visitors are subject to search at any time while on state property.

The Shift Commander has the authority to refuse entrance or terminate a visit when he/she feels a visitor is inappropriately dressed.

Inmates must dress appropriately for visits. Inmates must wear pants, shoes, and a shirt. Inmates may not wear undershirts in place of an outside shirt. Sweatpants, shorts and hats shall not be worn in the visiting room.

No jewelry, except wedding bands, medical alert bracelets/necklaces, and religious medals. Religious medals may only be worn under the inmates' shirts and must remain under their shirts at all times. Religious hat may be worn.

Note: The Shift Commander has the authority to terminate a visit when he/she feels the inmate is inappropriately dressed.

Staff assigned to the Minimum Visiting Room will return all processed Minimum Visit paperwork to the Outer Control upon closing of the Visiting Room. Staff assigned to the Minimum Unit on the 11-7 shift shall pick up the paperwork and bring it to the Minimum.

Lavatory Facilities

• Visitors and inmates shall notify the Visiting Room Officer prior to using the lavatory.
• In the event that a minor wishes to use the lavatory, the non-inmate parent/guardian must be present during the use of the facilities (either inside the lavatory with children needing assistance or right outside of the lavatory for children using the lavatory without assistance).
• Visitors and inmates may not use the lavatory facilities at the same time.
• Visitors and inmates must return directly to the visiting area immediately after using the lavatory facilities
• Inmates may use only those facilities designated for inmate use.
• Inmates and visitors are expected to assist by keeping these areas clean.