Oregon Administrative Rules
Chapter 291 - DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Division 127 - VISITING
Section 291-127-0400 - Authority, Purpose and Policy

(a) Visiting is an integral component of facility management, inmate habilitation and community safety. Visiting can improve public safety, encourage responsible familial relationships and reduce the risk of future criminal behavior.

(b) Within the inherent limitations of resources and the need for facility security, safety, health and good order, it is the policy of the Department of Corrections to permit, promote, facilitate, and encourage approved visitation by inmates with their families, friends, and others in the Department of Corrections facilities in accordance with these rules.

(c) When authorized, visitation in a Department of Corrections facility is permitted neither as a matter of right nor as a privilege of the inmate or the inmate's visitor; rather, visitation in Department of Corrections facilities is permitted by the Department when it furthers the inmate's correctional planning and the Department's correctional goals and mission and is consistent with the safe, secure and orderly management and operation of the facility.

(d) The Department encourages productive relationships between families and inmates and sees inmate visitation as a positive means to strengthen ties and increase the likelihood of success upon release.

(e) The department intends that its rule prescribing eligibility criteria for prospective visitors set forth in OAR 291-127-0415(2)(i) apply retroactively to all persons who have submitted or will submit a visiting application prior to, on, and after the effective date of the rule.