WASHINGTON _ The Bureau of Prisons directed all federal prisons to reopen visitation for inmates by Oct. 3 in a memo sent to wardens last week, a move that representatives for correctional officers said would be dangerous and "opening Pandora's box."
The Bureau of Prisons suspended visitors coming to see inmates in March amid concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. Six months later, it is directing wardens to open visitation under "non-contact only" rules.
"Social visiting will resume no later than Saturday, October 3, 2020, in accordance with the guidance below," the memo sent on Monday states. "Wardens will immediately begin developing local procedures to reinstate social visiting."
