Section 217.265

Title XIII CORRECTIONAL AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS

Chapter 217

Effective - 28 Aug 1995   

  217.265.  Visitors, regulation of — clergymen's privileges. — 1.  Except as provided in subsections 2 and 3 of this section, no person shall be permitted to enter a correctional center except by special permission of the chief administrative officer of the facility, the division director, the department director or under such regulations as they shall prescribe.

  2.  The following persons shall be authorized to visit the correctional centers of the state at any time:  all authorized employees of the department, the governor, lieutenant governor, members of the general assembly, judges of the supreme court, courts of appeal, and circuit courts, attorney general, state auditor, state treasurer, secretary of state, director of public safety, adjutant general, commissioners of elementary and secondary and higher education, and circuit and prosecuting attorneys.  The assistants of all above-named officers shall be authorized to visit correctional centers at any reasonable time as specifically authorized by their superiors and in accordance with regulations established by the department.

  3.  All clergymen of every recognized denomination shall have access to the correctional centers and may visit any offender confined in a facility, subject to such rules as may be deemed necessary for maintaining security and safety in the correctional center.  Such clergy may administer the rites and ceremonies of the church to which they belong, if such offender desires it and it is in compliance with department rules.

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(L. 1982 H.B. 1196 § 65, A.L. 1989 H.B. 408, A.L. 1990 H.B. 974, A.L. 1995 H.B. 424)