What Happens If Sing Sing's Visiting Room Gets Too Crowded (Termination Policy)

When the visiting room gets too crowded, Sing Sing follows a specific procedure to free up space. Staff don't just start cutting visits short - they begin by asking for volunteers willing to end their visit early.

The first step is always voluntary. Staff will ask if anyone can wrap up their visit to open space before moving to the next steps in the policy.

If no one volunteers - or the room still needs space - staff turn to "local" visits next. Visitors who live within 100 miles of the facility can have their visits ended after three hours, using a first-in, first-out approach. The visits that started earliest get ended first once that three-hour mark hits.

• ✓ If you live within 100 miles, be prepared for a three-hour visit limit if the room needs space
• ✓ Termination is handled on a first-in, first-out basis (earlier arrivals are affected first)
• ✓ This step only comes after staff have already requested voluntary termination

Still crowded after ending local visits? The policy moves to the next group: visitors who traveled over 100 miles. These visits can also be terminated after three hours, again first-in, first-out. Even a long trip doesn't exempt you once the earlier steps haven't solved the crowding.

Before ordering a termination, the Superintendent or Officer of the Day gives special consideration to certain situations - visits with prior special permission, and visits for incarcerated individuals who haven't had a visitor in six months. This doesn't guarantee your visit will continue, but it does mean those circumstances are weighed before ending visits for space.

Crowding decisions can feel abrupt mid-visit, so go in expecting the policy might be used. Staff start by asking for volunteers. If that doesn't free up space, the three-hour cutoff kicks in - first for visitors within 100 miles, then (if still tight) for those who traveled over 100 miles. Both tiers use first-in, first-out. If your visit involves special permission, or your loved one hasn't had a visitor in six months, leadership is supposed to give those situations extra consideration. The most useful thing you can do? Be ready for a request to wrap up and respond calmly. These decisions are about space, not about you.

• ✓ Plan your visit with a three-hour threshold in mind if the room becomes overcrowded
• ✓ If staff request voluntary termination, expect that this is the first step in the policy
• ✓ Know that visitors within 100 miles are addressed before visitors who traveled over 100 miles if terminations are needed
• ✓ If your visit has prior special permission, keep that information available in case it matters for special consideration
• ✓ If your loved one hasn’t had a visit in six months, understand that this is also a factor considered before termination
• ✓ If you’re asked to end your visit, comply promptly so the process stays as smooth as possible