Visiting Suspension Extended; New Visit Schedule & Guidelines Coming Soon

June 15, 2020

Dear Family and Friends:

We appreciate your patience and cooperation while we work to protect the health and safety of your loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Missouri Department of Corrections facilities are not resuming visiting yet. Unfortunately, at this time, the visiting suspension will be extended past Father’s Day weekend.

However, we are finalizing plans to begin implementing new visiting procedures in Missouri state prisons in the coming weeks. Visiting start dates will vary from prison to prison.

Right now the Department of Corrections and the Missouri National Guard are testing all staff and all offenders for COVID-19 throughout the state. We expect to complete testing in early August. At facilities with no cases of COVID-19, we plan to gradually resume most normal operations, including visiting, with new requirements and restrictions. These new requirements were recommended by offender councils and visiting room staff.

So far, three prisons have returned test results with no positives among offenders or staff. Algoa Correctional Center, Chillicothe Correctional Center and South Central Correctional Center have no cases of COVID-19. Eastern Reception, Diagnostic & Correctional Center and Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic & Correctional Center are being tested this week.

Prisons that have completed mass testing with no cases of COVID-19 will be the first to resume visiting. We plan to limit the number of visitors allowed in the visiting room, to require face covers for all visitors, to conduct screenings and temperature checks, and to enforce social distancing rules.

Please stay tuned for details and dates.

The most important component of reopening visiting and keeping it open is you. If visitors help keep the virus out, visiting can continue. Make smart health decisions. Follow social distancing guidelines and other recommendations. Wash your hands. Avoid crowds. Stay home if you are sick. We encourage everyone who plans to visit a loved one to get tested for the virus within seven days of a planned visit. Testing sites are located throughout the state, and free testing is available at popup community testing locations.

Meanwhile, please continue to stay in touch using the eight free email stamps JPay provides to each offender each month and the two free phone calls Securus provides to each offender each week.

We appreciate your patience and support in our efforts to protect incarcerated Missourians during this difficult time.

For regular updates on Missouri Department of Corrections COVID-19 containment efforts, please visit our website.