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5. CONTACT
Outcome
Good contact with family and friends is maintained.
5.1 Not fully met. The visits room is bright, airy and spacious; facilities for visitors are good; and supervision arrangements during visits are appropriate. However, the visit booking system was not working properly and there was very little information for visitors.
Family Contact
5.2 Arrangements for maintaining family contact are reasonably good, although at the time of the inspection there was a problem with the booking system for local unconvicted and convicted prisoners.
5.3 Visiting arrangements are as follows:
Untried and Local Convicted Prisoners:-
Monday - Thursday | 13.30 - 14.30 |
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Saturday | 11.30 - 12.30 by request |
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Sunday | 10.30 - 11.30 by request |
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Evening visits can be booked on a Tuesday and Thursday | 19.15 - 20.00 |
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Untried only:-
Long-Term Prisoners:-
Friday | 13.30 - 14.30 |
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Saturday | 14.15 - 15.45 |
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Sunday | 14.15 - 15.45 |
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5.4 All visits were at the time of inspection booked by the prisoner. Untried prisoners were block booking and this was causing problems as it was effectively becoming a system of 'first come first served': it was suggested to inspectors that some prisoners were selling their visit slot. The booking system should be improved.
5.5 Father and child bonding visits are also available for low/medium security prisoners (both long and short term) who have had a negative drug test in the past month and no recent disciplinary reports. These visits are available in addition to normal visits. The visits are available to short-term prisoners for one hour on a Saturday morning and to long-term prisoners for one hour on a Sunday morning. Only one visit takes place at any one session, but uptake has been low. The reasons for this should be examined.
5.6 There are two Family Contact Development Officers ( FCDO) in post although these duties are in addition to other duties. Their badges indicate that they are FCDOs but there are no photographs in the visits waiting area or visits room. This should be addressed. There is no dedicated space for the FCDOs to carry out their duties in privacy. This should be addressed.
5.7 Families are not involved in the induction process, although all admissions are provided with an information pack to send to their families/visitors. Families should have the opportunity to participate in induction sessions.
5.8 The location of the prison can cause difficulties in terms of distance and travelling time. The SACRO bus which previously provided a service from Glasgow has been discontinued because of a lack of use. The FCDOs help by providing directions and advice on road and rail journeys.
5.9 Visitors spoken to were content with how they were treated by staff and felt that the experience was as pleasant as it could be under the circumstances. Visitors must produce identification before being allowed into the prison. Several reported that they had been refused entry if they arrived after the 15 minute cut off period. During the inspection one person arrived late and was allowed entry. Visitors are called into the visits room by the prisoner's surname only.
5.10 When prisoners submit their approved visitor list this is firstly passed to the Social Work Department to check for child protection issues. There is also a training package for staff on child protection risk factor particularly with reference to sex offenders.
The Visits Room
5.11 The visits room is bright, spacious and airy. There are tables available for 20 visits. Tables are reasonably well spaced to allow a certain amount of privacy. Noise levels were not too high. The visit session observed was supervised by four members of staff, but supervision was not obtrusive and on one occasion staff were particularly helpful to one prisoner. Prisoners wear different coloured bibs.
5.12 There is a play area for children and a well stocked shop run by local volunteers: Friends of HMP Dumfries. This shop is well used and appreciated by visitors.
Information
5.13 There is sufficient information about the visiting arrangements available.
Searching
5.14 Random searching of four to five visitors per week takes place. All visitors suspected of carrying contraband are searched. Arrangements are appropriate.
Communications
5.15 A robust process for handling mail is in place. There are sufficient telephones in the residential areas.
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