An Act to strengthen visitation rights of incarcerated people

This bill amends Massachusetts law to protect the in-person visitation rights of incarcerated individuals by prohibiting correctional facilities from unreasonably restricting access. It mandates that facilities provide at least five four-hour visiting periods per week and allows visitors to travel from over 75 miles away without prior approval if they pass a background check. The legislation also bans discrimination against visitors based on their criminal history or past incarceration and requires that new visitors be allowed to see an inmate within ten days of their request. Additionally, it prevents facilities from forcing inmates to choose between visiting family and other loved ones and stops the requirement for pre-approval lists to be reset when an inmate is transferred to a new facility.