By Sarah Nelson
The Indianapolis Star
INDIANAPOLIS — In-person visits to Indiana’s prisons are set to resume in a phased approach this week after the pandemic shut out visitors for more than a year.
The Indiana Department of Correction on Wednesday announced the prison system will begin allowing visitors inside its 18 adult prisons and juvenile facilities this week in three phases, but gave no firm dates.
“We understand the public is eager to see their loved ones, and we are working diligently to reinstitute visitation while also maintaining the safety of our staff and our justice-involved population,” the department said in a statement.
For the first phase, only attorneys are allowed inside for consultations.
Volunteers will return in the second phase.
By phase three, standard visits for families and the public will resume.
Officials will announce dates as plans are finalized.
The prison system said families and visitors must follow a number of health guidelines before entering a facility.
Masks are required for inmates, staff and visitors. Visitors must bring their own face covering and ID. No physical contact between families and inmates is allowed, the release said.
Visits must be scheduled at least one week in advance. Visiting hours vary for each facility. Contact information for Indiana Department of Correction facilities can be found online at www.in.gov.
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