Visiting Rules

General

1. Anyone over the age of 18 must review the visiting rules and regulations before they can visit any inmate at the Hampden County Sheriff's Office (HCSO).
2. All visitors must have valid identification (see ID Requirements).
3. Visitors not adhering to these rules will be turned away or may be subject to have their visit ended early.
4. Visitors must register at the Public Lobby Reception Desk and adhere to all rules while present on HCSO property.
5. All visitors, 18 and above, are required to complete background check form (BOP Request) online as well as the Request to Visit Form before entering the Secure Perimeter. These are legal forms and providing false information will be grounds for denying your entrance into the facility and suspending your visiting privileges for a specific period of time. The completed Request to Visit Form shall be presented to the Public Lobby Officer at the reception desk.
6. Visitors can not visit two inmates at the same time. Visitors will need to proceed to the Public Lobby and fill out another Request to Visit Form if they choose to visit with another inmate.
7. Any visitor, even one who has obtained prior permission to visit, may be denied entrance to the facility or told to terminate a visit and leave the premises due to safety and security concerns.
8. Visitation privileges are denied to visitors when the visitor:
   • Does not obey the rules and regulations set forth by HCSO,
   • If the safety and security of the facility is jeopardized,
   • Appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs,
   • Failed one or more Background Check Criteria.
9. All visitors must dress in an appropriate and acceptable manner (see Dress Policy)
10. All visitors must pass through and clear the metal detector unless unable to do so, in which circumstances a search is completed with a hand-held metal detector or a consensual pat search. An adult may carry small children through the metal detector. Visitors may be asked to consent to a pat search by an officer of the same gender and any visitor may leave the facility rather than submitting to such search. Refusing to submit to any aspect of the search procedure will result in the visitor being denied entrance into the facility.
11. During a visit,
    • You must conduct yourself in an orderly manner.
    • You must stay in the assigned seat / booth and any request to change seats / booths will be at the discretion of the Visiting Officer.
    • Association with anyone other than your Visitee is not permitted.
12. No use of obscene or abusive language or any other gestures or acts is permitted in the Public Lobby or Visiting Room. No form of sexual conduct or gestures will be tolerated and will immediately be cause to end the Visit.
13. If the visitor has been posted for disciplinary reasons, prior to reinstating the visitor’s visiting privileges, the visitor must complete a new background check form (BOP Request) after completion of suspended visiting privileges to be allowed to visit.

Facility-Specific Rules

• Main Institution (Men's Facility in Ludlow)
  • All in-person visits are NON-CONTACT visits. No physical contact can occur at any time during a personal visit. Any violation of this directive will result in formal discipline for the justice-involved person and the immediate posting of the visitor restricting them from further visits.
  • During non-contact visits, the visitor remains in the assigned booth and any request to change booths is at the discretion of the Visiting Officer.
  • Visitors and inmates are not allowed to tap on the physical glass barrier, which separates the inmate from the visitor in the non-contact booths or through doors.
  • At the conclusion of the contact visit, inmates cannot escort visitors to the sallyport door. Inmates must first exit through the inmate waiting area of the Visiting Room.
  • The use of the Children’s Room is restricted to Professional Visits.
• Women's Correctional Center (Chicopee)
  • All in-person visits are NON-CONTACT visits. No physical contact can occur at any time during a personal visit. Any violation of this directive will result in formal discipline for the justice-involved person and the immediate posting of the visitor restricting them from further visits.
  • During non-contact visits, the visitor remains in the assigned seat and any request to change seats or move them from their original position is at the discretion of the Visiting Officer.
  • At the conclusion of the contact visit, inmates cannot escort visitors to the door. Inmates must first exit the Visiting Area.
  • Visiting children and inmates are only allowed to use the Children’s Room if approved.
• Western Mass Recovery and Wellness Center (Springfield)
  • All in-person visits are NON-CONTACT visits. No physical contact can occur at any time during a personal visit. Any violation of this directive will result in formal discipline for the justice-involved person and the immediate posting of the visitor restricting them from further visits.
  • During non-contact visits, the visitor remains in the assigned booth and any request to change booths is at the discretion of the Visiting Officer.
  • At the conclusion of the contact visit, inmates cannot escort visitors to the door. Inmates must first exit the Visiting Area.
  • Visiting children and inmates are only allowed to use the Children’s Room if approved.

Regarding Minors

1. Minors must have the proper identification (see ID Requirements)
2. School-aged children are not allowed in the facility during normal school hours unless accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.
3. Children must be carefully supervised by their parent/legal guardian at all times in the Public Lobby and Visiting Room. Visits may be ended early if children exhibit behavioral problems that interfere with other visits or the orderly running of the Visiting Area.
4. Baby Bottles must be clear plastic (no glass).
5. We advise to change baby's diapers prior to the start of your Visit to make full use of your Visit Time (see Restroom Policy)

Scheduling a Visit

• Visits must be scheduled in advance, up to 1 week prior to the visit, through the Public Lobby.
• Same day in-person visit appointments will be allowed if an appointment time is available.
• You may call the public lobby to schedule a visit (see this page)

Animal Policy

Visitors may not bring any type of animal onto the property. In the event a seeing-eye dog is necessary, prior authorization is required.

Visitor Limit

1. Inmates can have 3 Visitors; this includes children under the age of 18. More may be permitted at the discretion of the Hampden County Sheriff's Office.
2. Visitors will not be allowed to swap out at any time during the visit.

Visit Limit

Each Resident will be allowed a 1-hour Visit, up to twice per week, not on two separate visits on the same day, from Sunday to Saturday. Any special request for additional visitors or for a two-hour visit needs to be submitted by the inmate one week prior to the visit. Special requests for a two-hour visit will account for the two-hour visit for the week.

Commissary

Visitors may place money into an inmate’s account by utilizing the Kiosk machine available in the Public Lobby at WCC, WMCAC or the Main Facility in Ludlow. The Kiosk accepts currencies of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Visitors may also deposit money into the inmate's account by doing one of the following:

• Call Access Secure Deposits toll-free phone number (866) 345-1884 or,
• Utilizing the Internet deposit website by accessing inmatedeposits.com

Locker Policy

All personal belongings (coats, purses, money, jewelry, cameras, beepers/pagers, radios, cell phones, personal keys, gum, candy, food, drinks, etc.) must be placed in one of the coin-operated lockers in the Public Lobby or secured in the visitor’s personal vehicle. Personal belongings are not allowed past the Public Lobby Area. The Hampden County Sheriff's Office will not be held responsible for lost or stolen articles.

Vehicle Disclaimer

• Visitors' vehicles must be locked while in the parking lot and are subject to search while on State Property. If children and pets are found unattended in the visitor’s vehicle, the visit will be stopped and the visitor asked to leave the premises and the visit will count as one of the inmate's visit for the week.
• At the Main Institution in Ludlow, Visitor’s automobiles are to be parked in the parking lot east of the facility.
• Children or animals are not to be left unattended in automobiles while parked on state property.

Contraband Warning

In accordance with M.G.L. c. 268, s. 28, visitors attempting to introduce contraband into the facility (drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, weapons, etc.) will be subject to arrest and criminal prosecution. It is a felony for any person to deliver any article to an inmate without permission of the Sheriff or Facility Administrator, or to procure an article to be delivered, to possess it with intent to deliver it or to deposit or conceal it with intent that an inmate shall obtain it.

Smoking Policy

Visitors may not smoke anywhere on the grounds. All tobacco products and smoking items (such as lighters, and matches) are considered contraband.

Restroom Policy

Visitors will not have access to the restroom located in the Visiting Area. Visitors will proceed to the Lobby restroom and may go back to the Visiting Area to resume their visit. YOUR VISIT TIME DOES NOT STOP DURING THIS BREAK, therefore we advise using the restroom prior to the start of your Visit.

Transportation Info

Unfortunately, there is no Government payment or reimbursement for transportation. Please arrange transportation to and from the facility accordingly. Public transportation may be an option, please refer to the PVTA site for more details.

• Facility Locations
• PVTA Site

NOTE: Information regarding the availability of public transportation to and from the facility is posted in the public lobby.

Background Check Criteria

• Has an active Restraining Order or 209A against an inmate of the facility,
• Has an active Restraining Order against you by an inmate,
• Is listed in the Criminal Justice System Information System, convicted of a felony within the last year or has been incarcerated within a one-year time period,
• Upon review of a Board of Probation any findings of open cases or warrants, and you are not an immediate family member.

Visitors that fail a background-check (Denied status) may appeal for visitation access to a particular Resident (see Appealing for Visitation).

Appealing for Visitation

Ex-offenders may not visit until the Central Review Board approves them. If anyone has been convicted and incarcerated within the past year, and they are not immediate family, they may not visit. Immediate family members can visit once they are approved.

See Instructions for Appealing a BOP

Dress Policy

All visitors must dress in an appropriate and acceptable manner as determined by the Public Lobby Officer. The following will not be allowed in the Visiting Room:

• Bathing suits;
• Shorts/skirts above knee length (knee length admitted);
Halter-tops;
• Excessively tight and revealing clothing;
• Mini skirts or skirts below knee length with slits;
Tank tops (spaghetti straps, sleeveless shirts not allowed), shoulders must be covered;
• Tights, leggings or spandex;
• Ripped or torn clothing;
See-through clothing;
• No bare feet, sandals or open-toe shoes;
• Jackets, sweatshirts with hoods, coats, hats or do-rags (Religious headwear allowed but will be asked to be temporarily removed to make positive identification upon entering and exiting the Visiting Area);
• Clothing that advertises alcohol, drugs, drug paraphernalia or gang representation;
• Clothing with vulgarity or any type of sexual content;
All green or orange clothing;
• Work uniforms, (i.e. BSMC, Baystate & Gas, Scrubs, etc.);
• Jewelry – except for a wedding band without stones