Washington prisons to resume in-person visits

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington Department of Corrections says in-person visits will soon resume at state correctional facilities. The state suspended all visitations on March 13, 2020 due to COVID-19, so it’s been over a year since in-person visits were allowed. Corrections officials say with the number of vaccinations rising, the department has finalized months of planning for operations to safely reopen structured in-person visitation. Approved visitors can now submit an appointment request form online. Visits are scheduled to start May 9, which is Mother’s Day. One-hour visits with people 16 years old or older will be allowed once a month, and visitors must pass a COVID-19 screening.