Can Death Row Inmates Get Visits?

Can Death Row Inmates Get Visits?

Inmates who have been sentenced to die are housed in designated areas of prisons commonly referred to as death row. The appeals process in a death sentence case can take years to complete. In the meantime, the inmates are typically confined to their cells and have no contact with non-death row inmates or with the outside world. Each state determines the visiting policies for death row inmates but some common rules usually apply. How the visits work: Most non-death row prison visits are conducted face-to-face in a room with tables, chairs and vending machines. Not so with death row inmates. Whether it is to further punish those who society deems to be “the “worst” or because of security risks, it’s unlikely that you would be able to visit the death row inmate in person. It’s likely that there would be a glass partition between the two of you and old-fashioned telephone handsets to talk with. Some states will have you visit through a computer monitor, similar to FaceTime or Skype. Who can visit: Each state determines who can visit death row inmates. Due to public interest in death row inmates, it is not uncommon for someone to write to the inmate after the case has been publicized and at some point offer to visit. Some states have rules in place to discourage such interest and restrict visits to friends who can prove they knew the inmate before prison and family members. Others allow anyone to visit whom the inmate puts on the visitor list. Visitor Screening: Visitors of death row inmates go through the same screening process that visitors of non-death row inmates endure. You may have to fill out an application and have a background check before being able to visit. Final thoughts: The increased isolation for death row inmates can continue for many years making visits very important to them. They also typically have shorter allowable visiting hours. If you are on an approved visitor list for a death row inmate and you schedule a visit, it is important that you keep the appointment. Otherwise you are taking time away that someone else could have used for that inmate.